Prosper Okoye
A wave of defections has swept through Nigeria’s House of Representatives, with lawmakers crossing party lines and reshaping the political balance, many citing internal crises within their former parties.
Among those who switched parties is Philip Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in Benue State and moved from the All Progressives Congress to the Labour Party.
In Osun State, Akanni Clement Ademola of Boluwaduro/Ifedayo/Ila Federal Constituency defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Accord Party.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelTwo lawmakers from Imo State — Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu, representing Ideato Federal Constituency, and Nwogu Mathew of Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala — left the PDP and Labour Party respectively to join the Action Peoples Party.
Further shifts saw Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi move from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress, alongside Harris Okonkwo of Idemili North/Idemili South. Seyi Sowunmi, representing Ojo Federal Constituency in Lagos State, also joined the ADC from the Labour Party.
In northern Sokoto State, three lawmakers — Mani Maishinko Katami, Abdussamad Dasuki and Umar Yusuf Yabo — defected from the PDP to the ADC, while Mustapha Abdullahi of Kaduna State moved from the APC to the same party.
The ruling APC recorded gains, particularly in the north, drawing defectors from the PDP and the New Nigeria Peoples Party. Mohammed Bassi of Mayo Belwa/Ganye/Jada/Toungo Federal Constituency in Adamawa State switched from the PDP to the APC.
Several lawmakers from Kano State — including Ghali Tijjani Mustapha, Shehu Bello, Dankawu Idris, Hussain Hassan Shehu, Rabiu Yusuf, Garba Mohammed Chiroma, Ibrahim Mohammed and Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe — also moved from the NNPP to the APC.
Other defections to the APC include Jaafaru Yakubu and Sadiq Abbas Tafida of Taraba State, Ibrahim Mohammed of Kebbi State, Aliu Madaki, and Bello Shinkafi of Zamfara State.
The Accord Party also gained Oladebo Lanre Olomololaye of Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency in Osun, who defected from the PDP, while Ikwechegh Mascot left the All Progressives Grand Alliance for the Labour Party.
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Most of the lawmakers attributed their defections to internal disputes and divisions within their former parties, underscoring persistent instability in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
