The House of Representatives continues to witness shifts in its partisan composition, particularly in the period leading up to the National Assembly primaries. In recent weeks, a number of Members have cited internal leadership crises, divisions, and factionalisation within their respective political parties as reasons for their decisions to change party affiliation.

With the defection of sixteen Members across party lines over the past two weeks, the total number of defections recorded in the 10th Assembly since June 2024 has risen to 137. These movements cut across several states, including Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Lagos, Niger, Osun, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) recorded the highest gains in this latest round, adding eight Members, followed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) with five. The Majority Caucus also recorded some losses, with three Members joining parties within the Minority bloc, reflecting a fluid and evolving political landscape within the Chamber.

In terms of losses, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recorded the highest, with eight seats lost to other parties. Of these, five Members joined the APC, while the ADC and Accord Party gained one and two seats respectively. The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) recorded the second-highest losses, with four Members from Kano State defecting to the ADC.

Summary of Defections (Since July 2024)

Seats Gained by Parties

– All Progressives Congress (APC) – 103 seats

– African Democratic Congress (ADC) – 23 seats

– Accord Party (AP) – 5 seats

– Action Peoples Party (APP) – 2 seats

– Labour Party (LP) – 2 seats

– All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) – 1 seat

– Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – 1 seat

Seats Lost by Parties

– Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – 82 seats

– Labour Party (LP) – 26 seats

– New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) – 18 seats

– All Progressives Congress (APC) – 4 seats

– Young Progressives Party (YPP) – 3 seats

– ⁠All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) – 2 seats

– African Democratic Congress (ADC) – 1 seat

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) remains the only party represented at inauguration yet to lose a single Member through defection.

The Action Peoples Party (APP) and Accord Party (AP), despite being relatively new entrants into the Assembly’s composition, have retained all gained seats.