DPR records more defections due to El’ Rufai’s son, others dump APC, PDP

The House of Representatives on Thursday recorded more defections with five lawmakers dumping the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and African Democratic Party (ADC).

They join the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) and ADC amid increasing political adjustments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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‎The Speaker of the DPR, Tajudeen Abbas, read out the members of parliament’s defection letters at the plenary session on Thursday.

‎Among the defectors is the son of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Muhammad El-Rufai, who represents Kaduna North Federal Constituency.
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‎The younger El-Rufai defected from the APC to the NDC. Also, Joshua Obika, representing Abaji/Gwagwalada/Kuje/Kwali Federal Constituency in the Federal Capital Territory joined the NDC.
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‎Obika defected from the APC to the NDC, marking his third political move since the inauguration of the 10th Assembly.
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‎He was elected on the Labor Party platform in 2023 before moving to the APC in March 2026.
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‎Similarly, Abdulhakeem Kamilu, representing Wudil/Garko Federal Constituency in Kano State, dumped the ADC for the NDC, citing what he described as unresolved leadership issues within the party.
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‎Kamilu was elected to the DPR on the platform of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) before defecting to the ADC earlier this year.
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‎In another development, two lawmakers from Kaduna State, Suleiman Richifa and Umar Ajilo, defected from the PDP to the ADC.
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‎The members of parliament linked their decision to the ongoing crisis within the PDP both at the state and national levels.
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‎This latest defection comes just days after 17 MPs backed the NDC.‎