ABUJA – The political landscape of the House of Representatives underwent a significant shift on Wednesday as six lawmakers formally defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen read the official letters of defection during plenary, where the lawmakers cited “persistent internal crises” and a lack of coherent leadership within their former parties as the primary reasons for their exit.
The Defectors
The ADC was the biggest beneficiary of the day, gaining five new members:
- Sani Adamu Wakil (Minjibir/Ungogo, Kano) – From NNPP
- Umar Mukthar Zakari (Tarauni, Kano) – From NNPP
- Yusuf Umar Datti (Kura/Madobi/Garun Mallam, Kano) – From NNPP
- Abdulhakeem Kamilo Ado (Wudil/Garko, Kano) – From NNPP
- Emeka Chinedu Martin (Ahiazu/Ezinihitte/Mbaise, Imo) – From PDP
Meanwhile, the APC further bolstered its majority with the defection of Kabiru Ahmadu Maipalace (Gusau/Tsafe, Zamfara) from the PDP.
Reshaping the House Balance
This wave of defections has left the NNPP on the brink of legislative extinction in the lower chamber. Following the recent death of Mohammed Danjuma Hassan, the NNPP is now left with just one member. If that seat is lost, the party risks falling behind smaller platforms like the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
The current standing in the House is now estimated as follows:
- APC: 282 seats (Consolidated Majority)
- PDP: 30 seats (Declining)
- ADC: 24 seats (Rising Third Force)
- Labour Party: 10 seats
- APGA: 5 seats
- Accord Party: 4 seats
- APP/SDP: 2 seats each
- NNPP: 1 seat
ADC as the “New Third Force”
The ADC’s jump to 24 members marks a significant milestone for the party, positioning it as a formidable “third force” in the House. Analysts suggest that the mass movement of Kano lawmakers from the NNPP to the ADC indicates a major realignment of political loyalties in the North, potentially linked to the broader influence of Donald Duke and other recent high-profile entrants into the party.
The defectors maintained that their former platforms had failed to uphold core democratic principles, leaving them with no choice but to seek alternative vehicles to serve their constituents.
