“El-Rufai’s Son Among Five Lawmakers Dump APC, PDP in Fresh House Defection Wave”

It was another day of political movement in the House of Representatives on Thursday, as five lawmakers officially dumped their parties including the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The defectors have now joined the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the ADC, signaling early political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read the lawmakers’ resignation letters during plenary.

Among those who switched sides was Mohammed El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who represents the Kaduna North Federal Constituency. He left the APC for the NDC.

Also moving to the NDC was Joshua Obika, who represents the Abaji/Gwagwalada/Kuje/Kwali Federal Constituency in the FCT. This marks his third political party switch since the 10th Assembly began. Obika was originally elected under the Labour Party in 2023 before defecting to the APC in March 2026.

In another move, Abdulhakeem Kamilu, who represents the Wudil/Garko Federal Constituency in Kano State, ditched the ADC for the NDC. His reason? Unresolved leadership crises within the ADC. Kamilu was elected under the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) before moving to the ADC earlier this year.

Meanwhile, two lawmakers from Kaduna State Suleiman Richifa and Umar Ajilo—left the PDP for the ADC. They blamed their departure on the lingering crisis shaking the PDP at both the state and national levels.

These latest defections come just days after 17 other lawmakers aligned themselves with the NDC.