Many House of Reps members defect to NDC ahead of 2027 elections shortly after Peter Obi joins– see full list

• Several House of Reps members defected from ADC to NDC

• Obi and Kwankwaso recently joined the NDC

• 16 lawmakers moved to NDC; 1 moved to APC

• Reasons include internal party crisis and instability

• Defections may reshape political balance in the House

Several members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives have defected to the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC)following a major political realignment that also saw prominent figures Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso formally join the party.

Obi and Kwankwaso were earlier received into the NDC fold during a high-profile meeting in Abuja, where they were issued membership cards by party leaders, signalling what analysts describe as a strengthening of the opposition bloc ahead of future elections.

Shortly after their entry, the House of Representatives witnessed a wave of defections during plenary, where the Speaker announced that several lawmakers had officially left the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to join the NDC.

All the lawmakers listed below defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the NDC:

1. Yusuf Datti 

2. Uchenna Okonkwo

3. Adamu Wakili 

4. Thaddeus Attah 

5. George Ozodinobi

6. Lilian Orogbu

7. Oluwaseyi Sowunmi 

8. Peter Aniekwe 

9. Mukhtar Zakari 

10. George Oluwande 

11. Munachim Umezuruike 

12. Emeka Idu 

13. Jesse Onuakalusi 

14. Ifeanyi Uzokwe 

15. Afam Ogene 

16. Abdulhakeem Ado 

In addition, Leke Abejide (from ADC → APC) also announced his defection during the same plenary session, reflecting a wider political reshuffle beyond the NDC movement.

Lawmakers who defected to the NDC cited internal party crises, leadership disputes, and prolonged instability within the ADC as their primary reasons for leaving. They argued that the situation had weakened party cohesion and limited their ability to function effectively as representatives.

The timing of the defections, coming shortly after Obi and Kwankwaso’s entry into the NDC, highlights a rapid consolidation of political forces within Nigeria’s opposition landscape.

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The development could significantly alter power dynamics in the House of Representatives, particularly in terms of voting blocs and future legislative alignments.

As of the time of filing this report, the leadership of the affected parties had yet to issue a formal detailed response to the mass defections.