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ABUJA, FCT — By Prime Brief Media

Nigeria's House of Representatives has been rocked by a fresh wave of political defections, with seven lawmakers formally announcing their departure from their respective political parties in letters read on the floor of the Green Chamber.

The defections, which occurred during plenary on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, saw the opposition Peoples Democratic Party emerge as the biggest loser. Five PDP lawmakers formally severed ties with the party, citing internal divisions, leadership crises, and the need to align with platforms better positioned to serve their constituents.

Of the five departing PDP members, two crossed over to the ruling All Progressives Congress, bolstering the majority party's numerical strength in the lower chamber. Two others joined the African Democratic Congress, a party that has recently emerged as a gathering point for opposition figures seeking an alternative political vehicle ahead of the 2027 elections. The fifth PDP defector joined the Accord Party.

The remaining two defectors were drawn from smaller opposition parties, with one joining the APC and the other moving to the ADC. The letters announcing the defections were received without objection from the presiding officer.

Reacting to the development, the Deputy Speaker of the House, who presided over the session, described the movements as a natural feature of Nigeria's evolving democratic culture. "This is part of our democratic process. Lawmakers have the right to associate with any political platform they believe best serves their people and their conscience," the Deputy Speaker stated.

However, opposition figures have expressed alarm at the accelerating pace of defections from the PDP, which has struggled to present a united front following the 2023 general election. A chieftain of the party who spoke to Prime Brief Media on condition of anonymity described the defections as "a worrying trend that requires urgent introspection by the party leadership."

The defections come amid intense political maneuvering as parties and individual politicians position themselves for the 2027 general election cycle. The ADC, in particular, has attracted significant attention following high-profile engagements with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra Governor Peter Obi.

Constitutional lawyers note that while lawmakers are free to defect, Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution provides that a legislator who defects from the party on whose platform they were elected shall vacate their seat unless the defection is occasioned by a division or merger within their original party. It remains to be seen whether the affected PDP lawmakers will face legal challenges to the retention of their seats.

Prime Brief Media continues to monitor political developments in the National Assembly as the 2027 election season approaches.