17 House Reps Dump ADC for NDC as Crisis Deepens, One Joins APC

Seventeen members of the House of Representatives crossed from the African Democratic Congress to the Nigerian Democratic Congress on Tuesday — the single biggest defection wave to hit the chamber since the opposition reshuffle began. One more lawmaker, Leke Abejide, went the other way and joined the APC.

Who moved and why

The defectors came from Kano, Anambra, Lagos, Edo, and Rivers states, rising one by one during plenary to announce their exits. The reason given, consistently, was the ADC’s internal crisis — from ward level all the way up to the national executive.

Yusuf Umar Datti, representing Kura/Madobi/Garun Mallam in Kano, said the party’s instability had made it impossible to serve his constituency effectively. Harris Okonkwo of Idemili North/Idemili South in Anambra cited “wide consultations with political stakeholders and constituents.” The others gave broadly similar explanations without naming individuals.

The Speaker acknowledged the defections and wished the departing members well — the usual parliamentary courtesy in situations like this.

What this does to the ADC

The ADC has been falling apart since INEC derecognised its national executives in early April over a leadership row. That decision was only reversed last week after a Supreme Court ruling restoring the David Mark-led faction — but the apex court also sent parties back to the Federal High Court to settle the substantive dispute. The leadership question is still open.

Tuesday’s wave hollows out the ADC’s footprint in the National Assembly and feeds straight into the NDC — which Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso adopted as their 2027 platform just days ago. The NDC is gaining bodies fast; the question is whether the legal cloud hanging over its registration will slow that momentum.

Abejide’s move

Leke Abejide of Yagba Federal Constituency was the notable outlier — he went to the APC rather than joining the NDC tide. Not every ADC departure is an endorsement of the Obi-Kwankwaso project.

Sources: Premium Times, Punch, Legit.ng, News Central TV