17 ADC Lawmakers Defect to NDC After Peter Obi, Kwankwaso Exit, Signaling Major Opposition Shift Ahead of 2027
Abuja – Nigeria’s political landscape is witnessing a rapid shift following the defection of 17 members of the House of Representatives elected under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in what marks a significant consolidation for the emerging opposition bloc.
The development was formally announced during plenary on Tuesday by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, who read out the names of the lawmakers who have now aligned with the NDC.
In a related development, PulseNets learnt that Hon. Leke Abejide, representing Yagba East/West/Mopamuro Federal Constituency of Kogi State, has exited the ADC to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), further complicating the opposition equation.
Lawmakers Who Defected to NDC
The legislators who formally switched allegiance 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
- Abdulhakeem Ado
The mass movement comes barely 24 hours after high-profile political figures Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso announced their departure from the ADC to join the NDC.
PulseNets reported that both leaders were officially received at the NDC national headquarters in Abuja by the party’s National Leader, Henry Seriake Dickson, alongside the National Chairman, Moses Cleopas.
Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso have pledged to continue their push for good governance and a better Nigeria under the NDC platform.
The coordinated defections, closely following the exit of two major opposition figures, point to a deepening realignment within Nigeria’s opposition space. Political observers say the NDC is fast evolving into a credible force with the capacity to challenge the ruling APC in the 2027 general elections.
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For the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the development represents a significant blow, as it loses both key leaders and a substantial bloc of federal lawmakers within a short window.
During plenary, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas acknowledged the defections and directed the Clerk of the National Assembly to update the official records to reflect the changes.
Further political movements are anticipated as stakeholders continue to reposition ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
