FULL LIST: 17 Reps Who Defected from ADC to NDC

• At least 17 lawmakers have dumped the ADC for the NDC, citing internal crises, as political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.

No fewer than 17 members of the House of Representatives have defected from the African Democratic Congress to the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

The defections were formally announced during Tuesday’s plenary session by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu. The lawmakers cited “unresolved crises” within the party as the reason for their decision.

Those who moved to the NDC include Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande, and Munachim Umezuruike. Others are Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene, Murphy Omroruyi, and Abdulhakeem Ado.

The development comes amid a broader wave of political realignments linked to tensions and structural disagreements within the ADC, which some stakeholders say have disrupted party cohesion.

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Prominent opposition figures, including former presidential candidate Peter Obi and ex-Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, have also recently aligned with the NDC. Their moves are widely seen as part of efforts to avoid internal conflicts and build a more stable political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Obi, in a statement, said his decision followed “deep reflection” on the state of the nation and the need to contribute more effectively to national development, stressing that his exit was not driven by personal ambition or dissatisfaction. He added that the current situation in the country requires focused leadership with fewer internal distractions.

Similarly, Obi and Kwankwaso have urged supporters to prioritise national development over litigation and internal disputes, calling for unity within the emerging political coalition.