Two NNPP Lawmakers Defect to APC

Two members of the House of Representatives from Kano State have defected from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing internal party crises as their reason for leaving.

The lawmakers, Kabiru Usman (Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya Federal Constituency) and Abdullahi Sani (Karaye/Rogo Federal Constituency), announced their defection during Thursday’s plenary session. Their notices were formally read on the floor by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas.

In a related development, Oluwole Oke, a representative from Osun State, also formally joined the APC.

To mark the occasion, the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, alongside other party leaders, was present in the green chamber to witness the defections.

This development adds to the growing trend of defections in the House of Representatives, which has intensified in recent months. Since October 2024, numerous lawmakers from the opposition have crossed over to the ruling party, significantly altering the political dynamics within the lower chamber.

There has been a flurry of defections as the next election draws closer. The majority of the defectors have gone to the APC.

Recall Chris Nkwonta (Ukwa East/Ukwa West, Abia) left the PDP for the APC on October 2, 2024, while Sulaiman Abubakar (Gummi/Bukkuyum, Zamfara) joined the APC on October 30 of 2024.

By December 5, four Labour Party (LP) members and one PDP lawmaker had also defected to the APC.

In February 2025, Amos Magaji (Kaduna) and Garba Koko (Kebbi) left the PDP for the APC.

On March 18, Jallo Mohammed (Kaduna) and Adamu Tanko (Niger) also defected from the PDP.

On March 27, Clara Nnabuife switched from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), citing marginalisation within her former party.

Further realignments took place on May 8, when three PDP lawmakers from Katsina State—Abdullahi Balarabe (Bakori/Danja), Abubakar Albaba Aliyu (Batasari/Safana/Dan-Musa), and Yusuf Majigiri (Mashi/Dutsi)—defected to the APC, all attributing their move to unresolved internal crises within the PDP.

Other prominent defections to the APC in recent months include Victor Nwokolo, Julius Pondi, Thomas Ereyitomi, Nicholas Mutu, Ukodhiko Jonathan, and Ezechi Nnamdi, all former PDP members representing various constituencies.

This wave of defections reflects deepening instability within opposition parties and has further consolidated the APC’s dominance in the House of Representatives.