Obi and Kwankwaso Effect: 17 ADC Lawmakers Defect to NDC

No fewer than 17 members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have defected to the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), deepening the ongoing political realignment ahead of future elections.

The Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, announced the defections during plenary on Tuesday.

He also confirmed that Leke Abejide had left the ADC for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Lawmakers 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, Munachim Umezuruike, Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene, and Abdulhakeem Ado.

The mass defection comes just a day after former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso also dumped the ADC for the NDC.

Both leaders have since pledged to continue their political ambitions under the NDC platform, vowing to pursue what they described as a renewed vision for a better Nigeria.

The wave of defections signals a significant shift within Nigeria’s opposition landscape, with analysts suggesting the NDC may be positioning itself as a major political force in the lead-up to the next general elections.