Twenty-one Federal Lawmakers Resign From Parties as Massive Defection Wave Hits Nigeria’s National Assembly

Massive defection wave hits Nigeria’s National Assembly as 21 lawmakers resign from PDP and Labour Party. Discover the impact on the Senate and House today.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 12, 2026, 11:19 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Ripples Nigeria

A Sudden Realignment of Power in the Legislative Chambers

The Nigerian National Assembly experienced a seismic shift in its internal composition on Thursday following the synchronized departure of twenty-one federal lawmakers from their established political platforms. This wave of resignations involved nine members of the Senate and twelve representatives from the lower chamber, marking one of the most significant legislative realignments in recent months. The formal process was initiated through official correspondence delivered to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House Tajudeen Abbas, which was subsequently presented to the general assembly during the day's plenary session.

The Strategic Migration Toward the African Democratic Congress

In the upper legislative house, the defection trend favored the African Democratic Congress, which absorbed all nine of the departing senators. This group includes prominent political figures such as Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Eyinnaya Abaribe of Abia, and Ireti Kingibe representing the Federal Capital Territory. The migration also drew in senators from Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna, and Nasarawa, suggesting a coordinated effort to consolidate a new legislative bloc. According to the official records read during the session, these moves reflect a broader dissatisfaction with previous party structures and a desire for new political branding ahead of future governance cycles.

A Divided Exodus Within the House of Representatives

The lower chamber witnessed a more fragmented redistribution of political loyalty among the twelve defecting members. Unlike their counterparts in the Senate, the House representatives split their allegiances between the ruling All Progressives Congress and the rising African Democratic Congress. Six members, primarily from the Adamawa and Sokoto regions, chose to align themselves with the APC, leaving the Peoples Democratic Party behind. This specific movement highlights a strengthening of the ruling party's presence in the North East and North West, potentially altering the voting dynamics on upcoming executive bills and national policy debates.