APC gains as opposition parties lose 91 Reps members 

…Aduda dumps PDP for APC, declares support for Tinubu

Opposition parties in the House of Representatives have lost 91 seats to defection since July 2024, as lawmakers continue to abandon their original political platforms amid deepening internal party crises.

According to data published by the Federal House of Representatives, on Tuesday, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lost 61 lawmakers, while the Labour Party (LP) lost 20 seats and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) lost five members. The defection has left the YPP without any representation in the House of Representatives after losing its three members, effectively removing the party from the Green Chamber.

In contrast, the defection has further consolidated the dominance of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has gained 83 seats over the period by far the largest beneficiary of the ongoing realignments.

Also, smaller parties have also made modest gains, with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) securing six additional seats, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Accord Party (AP) picked up one seat each.

Notably, the APC and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) are the only parties that have not lost any seats through defection since July 2024.

According to the defectors, the ongoing defections are largely driven by persisting party crises especially in the PDP and LP, and strategic positioning ahead of 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, Philip Aduda, former federal lawmaker who represented the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the 9th Senate, has dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Aduda, who resigned from the PDP on Tuesday, held a closed-door meeting with Nentawe Yilwatda, the APC National Chairman, at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, few hours after. He was accompanied by the Chairman-elect of Kuje Area Council.

Responding to a question on whether he had defected to the APC during an interview session with newsmen, Aduda confirmed his official defection.

“Of course, I have formally joined the APC. Mr. Chairman, you have a big fish in your food now. And by the special grace of God, we will deliver for Mr President in 2027,” he said.

In his resignation letter dated March 17, 2026, addressed to the PDP Chairman of his Karu Ward in Abuja, Aduda, former Senate Minority Leader premised his exit on internal crisis in the PDP, but kept silent on his next political direction.

Aduda had lost his Senatorial seat to Ireti Kingibe of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023. Since then, he has been close to Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister, and his long-time ally.

Sources within the APC told BusinessDay that Aduda’s defection is to position him to reclaim his senatorial seat which he lost to Senator Kingibe in 2023.

Wike has consistently criticised Kingibe’s performance as FCT senator, insisting that she won’t be re-elected in 2027.