ABUJA, Nigeria — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has suffered a significant blow in the House of Representatives as 17 lawmakers formally defected to the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
The move, announced by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu during Tuesday’s plenary session, marks the latest in a wave of high-profile realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections. The defectors cited “unresolved crises” within the ADC as the primary motive for their departure.
The Defectors
The group of lawmakers joining the NDC includes several prominent figures:
- Yusuf Datti
- Uchenna Okonkwo
- Adamu Wakili
- Thaddeus Attah
- George Ozodinobi
- Lilian Orogbu
- Oluwaseyi Sowunmi
- Peter Aniekwe
- Mukhtar Zakari
- George Oluwande
- Munachim Umezuruike
- Emeka Idu
- Jesse Onuakalusi
- Ifeanyi Uzokwe
- Afam Ogene
- Murphy Omoruyi
- Abdulhakeem Ado
A Consolidated Front
This mass defection follows the recent entry of former presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso into the NDC. Both leaders have stated that their move was intended to escape a “toxic” political environment and internal legal disputes that have hampered their previous platforms.
Mr. Obi, who previously described his exit from the ADC as a result of “deep reflection,” has consistently called for a shift toward focused leadership and away from “internal distractions”.
Eyes on 2027
Political analysts view the rapid growth of the NDC as a strategic attempt by opposition forces to build a stable alternative to the ruling party. Stakeholders within the ADC have described the recent structural disagreements as “disruptive,” leading many to seek what they describe as a more cohesive platform for national development.
Mr. Kwankwaso and Mr. Obi have both urged their expanding base of supporters to prioritise unity and national welfare over the litigation that has historically weakened Nigerian political parties.
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