Seventeen members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Tuesday defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), citing an ongoing leadership crisis within their former party.
The defections were conveyed in separate letters read at plenary by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session.
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and that of the New Nigeria People Party Rabiu Kwankwaso, had last Sunday defected from the ADC to the NDC. They attributed the move to internal disputes in the party, among those who switched parties are Yusuf Datti, Sani Wakil, Mukthar Zakari and Abdulhakeem Ado from Kano State.
Lawmakers from Anambra State who joined the NDC include Uchenna Okonkwo, George Ozodinobi, Obiageli Orogbu, Peter Aniekwe, Emeka Idu, Peter Uzokwe and Afam Ogene.
Others are Thaddeus Achef, Oluwaseun Sowumi, George Oluwande and Jessy-Okey Onuakalusi from Lagos State, as well as Murphy Omoruyi (Edo) and Munachin Alozie (Abia).
In a separate development, Leke Abejide from Kogi State defected from the ADC to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kalu, while ruling on the matter, wished the defecting lawmakers well in their future political endeavours.