By Ebenezer Mabinuola
A fresh wave of political realignments is sweeping through Nigeria’s National Assembly as seven members of the House of Representatives formally announced their defection from opposition parties to either the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The defections, declared on the floor of the House during Tuesday’s plenary, come in the wake of similar moves by high-profile figures in Delta State, including Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who recently decamped to the APC along with thousands of their supporters.
As of today, all three Senators and nine of the ten House of Representatives members from the Delta region have crossed over to the APC, leaving only Benedict Etanabene of the Labour Party as the lone opposition voice from the state in the lower chamber.
The five members who defected to the APC cited deepening internal divisions within the PDP as their primary reason for the move. They include:
• Victor Onyemaechi Nwokolo (Ika North East/Ika South Federal Constituency)
• Nicholas Ebomo Mutu (Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency)
• Nnamdi Ezechi (Ukwuani/Ndokwa East/Ndokwa West Federal Constituency)
• Julius Gbabojor Pondi (Burutu Federal Constituency)
• Jonathan Ajiroghene Ukodhiko (Isoko North/Isoko South Federal Constituency)
In addition, Thomas Ereyitomi, representing Warri South/West/North, who was previously aligned with PDP factions, also declared for the APC.
From Enugu State, two lawmakers, Dennis Nnamdi Agbo (Igboeze North/Udenu Federal Constituency) and Chidi Obetta (Nsukka/Igbo Eze South Federal Constituency), formerly of the Labour Party, formalized their defection to the PDP. They pointed to internal leadership crises within the Labour Party and praised the performance of the state governor as motivating factors.
The ongoing shift in political affiliations has further raised speculation over the shape of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with analysts noting that both the APC and PDP are consolidating their positions in strategic regions.
While the APC appears to be gaining considerable ground, especially in Delta State, the movement of former Labour Party members to the PDP suggests internal fractures within the LP that could affect its performance in the next electoral cycle.
As realignments continue, attention is turning to how these shifts will influence national legislation, state-level governance, and the balance of power ahead of the next electoral showdown.
