By Duchess Ifeoluwa 

Seventeen members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), citing the protracted leadership crisis within their former party as the primary reason for their decision.

The defections were formally communicated to the House through separate letters read during plenary by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session.

The lawmakers who switched allegiance to the NDC include Rep. Yusuf Datti, Rep. Sani Wakil, Rep. Mukthar Zakari and Rep. Abdulhakeem Ado, all from Kano State.

Others are Rep. Uchenna Okonkwo, Rep. George Ozodinobi, Rep. Obiageli Orogbu, Rep. Peter Aniekwe, Rep. Emeka Idu, Rep. Peter Uzokwe and Rep. Afam Ogene from Anambra State.

Also among the defectors are Rep. Thaddeus Achef, Rep. Oluwaseun Sowumi, Rep. George Oluwande and Rep. Jessy-Okey Onuakalusi from Lagos State, as well as Rep. Murphy Omoruyi from Edo State and Rep. Munachin Alozie from Abia State.

In a related development, Rep. Leke Abejide from Kogi State defected from the ADC to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The wave of defections follows recent high-profile exits from the ADC, including that of former Anambra State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who both joined the NDC last Sunday, also attributing their decision to internal divisions within the party.

Observers say the latest defections underscore deepening instability within the ADC and could significantly alter political alignments ahead of future electoral contests.

Ruling on the matter, the Deputy Speaker wished the defecting lawmakers well in their future political endeavours, as the House recorded one of the largest single-day shifts in party affiliation in recent times.