Olushola Omogbehin
About 17 members of the House of Representatives have defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, disclosed this on the floor of the Green Chamber on Tuesday during plenary.
Some of those who defected include: Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, George Oluwande, and Munachim Umezuruike.
Others are Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene, Murphy Omroruyi, and Abdulhakeem Ado.
The defection is not unconnected with the movement of the Former presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso to NDC in order to realise their 2027 presidential ambition.
Though stakeholders in ADC have seen and described this development as disruptive to party cohesion but those who defected have cited “unresolved crises” as the reason for their departure.
Political analysts have also said that those leaving NDC are trying to avoid internal party conflicts and strengthening a more stable political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
Earlier, Obi, in a statement, said he arrived at the decision to leave ADC after he took deep reflection” on the state of the nation and the need to contribute more effectively to national development.
He also stressed that his exit from the party was not driven by personal ambition or dissatisfaction.
