Outspoken and fiery Imo State House of Representatives member, Ugochinyere Michael Ikeagwuonu (Ideato federal constituency), popularly addressed as Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, has reportedly defected from the PDP to the Action Peoples Party (APP), while Nwogu Mathew (Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala federal constituency) left the LP for the AP
This is coming on a day when the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) enjoyed major gains in the house of representatives following a fresh wave of defections ahead of the 2027 elections.
Among those who joined the ADC is George Ozodinobi, the deputy minority whip, who defected from the Labour Party (LP). He represents the Njikoka/Anaocha/Dunukofia federal constituency of Anambra state.
Harris Okonkwo, representing Idemili North/Idemili south federal constituency of Anambra state, and Seyi Sowunmi, who represents Ojo federal constituency of Lagos state, also defected from the LP to the ADC.
From the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Yaya Bauchi Tongo (Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye), Mani Maishinko Katami (Binji/Silame, Sokoto), Abdussamad Dasuki (Kebbe/Tambuwal, Sokoto), and Umar Yusuf Yabo (Yabo/Shagari, Sokoto) also defected to the ADC.
Mustapha Abdullahi, who represents Ikara/Kubau federal constituency of Kaduna state, joined the party from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Philip Agbese, representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo federal constituency of Benue state, defected from the APC to the LP, while Akanni Ademola (Boluwaduro/Ifedayo/Ila federal constituency, Osun) moved from the PDP to the Accord.
In Taraba state, Jaafaru Yakubu (Bali/Gassol) and Sadiq Abbas Tafida (Jalingo/Yorro/Zing) moved from the PDP to the APC.
Similarly, Bello Shinkafi (Shinkafi/Zurmi, Zamfara) defected from the PDP to the APC in Zamfara state, while Ibrahim Mohammed (Birnin Kebbi/Kalgo/Bunza) joined the ruling party from the PDP in Kebbi state.
Mohammed Bassi, representing Mayo Belwa/Ganye/Jada/Toungo federal constituency of Adamawa state, also defected from the PDP to the APC.
Bashir Gorau (Goronyo/Gada federal constituency of Sokoto state) also crossed over to the ADC from the PDP.
While George Olawande (Amuwo-Odofin, federal constituency in Lagos) left the Labour for the ADC.
In Osun state, Oladebo Lanre Olomololaye defected from the PDP to the Accord.
Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, read the defection notices during plenary on Tuesday.
The lawmakers attributed their defections to the internal crisis in their former parties.
Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives
A summary of events at the House of Reps today revealed that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, read the notices of defection during plenary on Tuesday.
Twenty-seven lawmakers defected in what is one of the major political realignments in the Green Chamber, just less than one year before Nigerians head to the polls to elect their next set of leaders.
The eight lawmakers who joined the ADC were made up of five reps from the PDP, two from the Labour Party (LP), and one from the APC.
Fourteen of the defectors came into the APC.
Meanwhile, the Action Peoples Party (APP) got two lawmakers, one each from the PDP and LP. It was a similar story with the Accord Party, with two new House of Representatives members from the PDP joining the party, which now rules Osun State.
The lawmakers said their defections were due to an internal crisis in their former parties.
Below is a comprehensive list of the movements:
27 Nigerian House Reps Members Defect today: ADC Gains 8, APC Gets 14, APP & Accord Pick 2 Each
Full list:
Lawmakers Who Defected to ADC (8 Total)
- Abdussamad Dasuki — Old: PDP → New: ADC (Kebbe/Tambuwal, Sokoto)
- Seyi Sowunmi — Old: LP → New: ADC (Ojo, Lagos)
- George Ozodinobi (Deputy Minority Whip)
— Old: LP → New: ADC (Njikoka/Anaocha/Dunukofia, Anambra)
- Harris Okonkwo — Old: LP → New: ADC (Idemili North/South, Anambra)
- Yaya Bauchi Tongo— Old: PDP → New: ADC (Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye, Gombe)
- Mustapha Abdullahi— Old: APC → New: ADC (Ikara/Kubau, Kaduna)
- Mani Maishinko Katami — Old: PDP → New: ADC (Binji/Silame, Sokoto)
- Umar Yusuf Yabo — Old: PDP → New: ADC (Yabo/Shagari, Sokoto)
To APC (14):
- Aliu Madaki (Deputy Minority Leader) — Old: NNPP → New: APC (Dala, Kano)
- Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe — Old: NNPP → New: APC (Tofa/Dawakin-Tofa/Rimingado, Kano)
- Ghali Tijjani Mustapha — Old: NNPP → New: APC (Ajingi/Albasu/Gaya, Kano)
- Shehu Bello — Old: NNPP → New: APC (Fagge, Kano)
- Dankawu Idris — Old: NNPP → New: APC (Kumbotso, Kano)
- Hussain Hassan Shehu — Old: NNPP → New: APC (Nassarawa, Kano)
- Rabiu Yusuf — Old: NNPP → New: APC (Sumaila/Takai, Kano)
- Garba Mohammed Chiroma — Old: NNPP → New: APC (Gezawa/Gabasawa, Kano)
- Ibrahim Mohammed — Old: NNPP → New: APC (Gwale, Kano)
- Jaafaru Yakubu — Old: PDP → New: APC (Bali/Gassol, Taraba)
- Sadiq Abbas Tafida — Old: PDP → New: APC (Jalingo/Yorro/Zing, Taraba)
- Ibrahim Mohammed — Old: PDP → New: APC (Birnin-Kebbi/Kalgo/Bunza, Kebbi)
- Bello Shinkafi — Old: PDP → New: APC (Shinkafi/Zurmi, Zamfara)
- Mohammed Bassi — Old: PDP → New: APC (Mayo Belwa/Ganye/Jada/Toungo, Adamawa)
To APP (2):
- Ugochinyere Michael Ikeagwuonu — Old: PDP → New: APP (Ideato, Imo)
- Nwogu Mathew — Old: LP → New: APP (Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala, Imo)
To Accord (2):
- Akanni Clement Ademola — Old: PDP → New: Accord (Boluwaduro/Ifedayo/Ila, Osun)
- Oladebo Lanre Olomololaye — Old: PDP → New: Accord (Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan, Osun)