No fewer than 21 members of the House of Representatives have dumped the political parties on whose platforms they were elected into the 10th National Assembly, further reshaping the political configuration of the Green Chamber.The defections, announced during plenary sessions held between June 2 and June 4, 2026, saw lawmakers citing leadership crises, internal divisions, factionalisation and unresolved disputes within their former parties as reasons for their decisions.
The Allied People’s Movement (APM) emerged as the biggest beneficiary of the latest wave of defections, gaining 11 lawmakers. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured three lawmakers each, while the Labour Party (LP), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) gained one member apiece.
On the losing end, the Peoples Democratic Party suffered the highest casualty, losing 12 members to rival political parties. The All Progressives Congress (APC) lost seven lawmakers, while the Labour Party and Social Democratic Party lost one member each.The development is the latest indication of the growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with lawmakers increasingly seeking alternative political platforms amid lingering internal crises within major parties.
The latest defections have also altered the composition of the House, increasing the number of political parties currently represented in the chamber to 12.The parties now represented in the House include the Accord Party (AP), Action People’s Party (APP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), Allied People’s Movement (APM), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Political observers noted that the defections have further strengthened the position of smaller political parties within the National Assembly, particularly the APM and PRP, whose presence in the House has expanded significantly in recent months.
The developments also underscore the declining fortunes of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), which has now completely lost its representation in the House. The party commenced the life of the 10th Assembly with three lawmakers, all of whom have since defected to other political platforms.
Analysts believe the continued movement of lawmakers across party lines reflects the fluid nature of Nigeria’s political environment and the intensifying calculations ahead of the next electoral cycle.
With 12 political parties now represented, the current House of Representatives stands as one of the most politically diverse assemblies in Nigeria’s recent democratic history, highlighting the increasing fragmentation and competitiveness of the country’s party system.
