2027: Fresh defections as El-Rufai, other lawmakers dump APC, PDP, ADC to NDC

Fresh defections have hit the House of Representatives as five lawmakers left the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to join the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, and the African Democratic Congress, ADC, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Among those who defected is Mohammed El-Rufai, the son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and the representative for Kaduna North Federal Constituency.

El-Rufai officially transitioned from the APC to the NDC during a plenary session on Thursday, a decision that political analysts suggest further indicates the deepening divide between the El-Rufai political faction and the ruling party.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, read the letters of defection in the chamber.

Mohammed El-Rufai’s departure follows months of speculation regarding his political prospects, particularly after his father, Nasir El-Rufai, repeatedly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The former governor of Kaduna, once seen as one of Tinubu’s most formidable allies within the APC, has recently accused the ruling party of neglecting internal democracy and marginalizing loyal stakeholders.

Additionally, Joshua Obika, who represents the Abaji/Gwagwalada/Kuje/Kwali Federal Constituency of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has also joined the NDC.

Obika’s defection from the APC to the NDC marks his third political shift since the commencement of the 10th Assembly.

He was initially elected under the Labour Party in 2023 before switching to the APC in March 2026.

Likewise, Abdulhakeem Kamilu, who represents the Wudil/Garko Federal Constituency of Kano State, has left the ADC for the NDC, citing ongoing leadership conflicts within the party.

Kamilu was elected to the House on the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, platform before previously defecting to the ADC. In another update, two lawmakers from Kaduna…