Peter Obi: 17 ADC Reps Defect To NDC

Seventeen lawmakers elected on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in the House of Representatives have defected to the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC.

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

Tajudeen also announced the defection of Leke Abejide from the ADC to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The lawmakers who defected from the ADC to the NDC include Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande and Munachim Umezuruike.

Others are Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene and Abdulhakeem Ado.

The announcement marks a major realignment in the House as political activities begin to gather momentum ahead of the next general elections.

Apart from the lawmakers who moved to the NDC, the Speaker also confirmed that Leke Abejide had left the ADC for the APC.

Abejide’s defection adds to the growing number of political movements from the ADC following recent developments within opposition circles.

The reasons for the defections were not immediately disclosed on the floor of the House.

The development comes barely a day after former presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, defected from the ADC to the NDC.

Obi and Kwankwaso had pledged to continue their pursuit of a better Nigeria under the platform of the NDC.

Their movement appears to have triggered fresh political alignment, with several federal lawmakers now joining the new platform.

The defection of the 17 lawmakers is expected to strengthen the NDC’s presence in the National Assembly and boost its visibility ahead of future political contests.

It also represents a major setback for the ADC, which has now lost key figures and lawmakers within a short period.