More members of the House of Representatives elected on the platforms of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) are set to defect to other political parties ahead of the National Assembly’s resumption on March 31, 2026.
Findings by Sunday Punch revealed that the leadership of the House is expected to formally announce a fresh wave of defections when lawmakers reconvene, further weakening opposition parties already grappling with internal crises since the 2023 general elections.
Among those reportedly set to leave the PDP are Bamidele Salam, Clement Akanni, Mahruf Adewale, Soji Adetunji, and Mudashiru Alani, all from Osun State.
The lawmakers are expected to join the Accord Party, following the earlier defection of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, from the PDP to the party.
The governor’s exit has continued to ripple through the PDP’s ranks in the state.
In Taraba State, the lawmaker representing Bali/Gassol Federal Constituency, Jaafaru Yakubu, has already resigned from the PDP and is expected to formally declare for the All Progressives Congress.
Similarly, Mohammed Bassi, who represents Mayo Belwa/Ganye/Jada/Toungo Federal Constituency of Adamawa State, is also preparing to join the ruling party.
One of the lawmakers, who spoke on condition of anonymity because his defection letter had yet to be read on the floor of the House, blamed the PDP’s leadership crisis for his decision.
“Nigerians should understand with us. Since 2015 when we lost power, things have not been the same. You would have expected the leaders to put their house in order but they kept fighting themselves. That is how PDP lost its soul to greedy men,” he said.
He added that the APC currently appears to be the most viable political platform.
“It is the only healthy party as far as I can see. If you want to return to your office, your previous works matter and so is your choice of a political platform. PDP may bounce back in the future but for now, it cannot compete in many parts of Nigeria,” the lawmaker stated.
NNPP Lawmakers Also Defecting
The NNPP is also witnessing a gradual depletion of its ranks.
Four of its lawmakers, Tijjani Mustapha, Muhammed Shehu, Dankawu Idris, and Hassan Hussain, have reportedly submitted their defection letters and are awaiting a formal announcement on the floor of the House.
They are expected to align with the APC.
In Lagos, Seyi Showunmi of the Labour Party is also reportedly preparing to defect to the African Democratic Congress, reflecting the growing fluidity of party loyalties in the current political landscape.
However, the APC may also lose a member as the House Deputy Spokesman, Philip Agbese, is said to be considering a move to the Labour Party.
Sources linked the planned defection to the lingering crisis in the Benue State chapter of the APC involving Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
At the conclusion of the 2023 general elections, the APC secured 175 seats in the House of Representativesjust six short of the 181 required for a simple majority.
The PDP followed with 116 seats, while the Labour Party won 35 seats and the NNPP secured 19 seats.
Other parties, including the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Social Democratic Party, Young Progressives Party, and African Democratic Congress, shared the remaining seats.
Since then, a series of defections, mostly in favour of the APC, have altered the balance of power in the Green Chamber.
The ruling party now commands a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly, significantly reducing the influence of opposition parties in legislative decision-making.
