The wave of defections in the House of Representatives intensified on Thursday as four lawmakers from Bauchi State dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), in a fresh round of political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election.
The defections were announced during plenary after Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read separate letters from the lawmakers notifying the House of their decision to leave the PDP.
Those who defected are Muhammad Shehu (Zaki Federal Constituency), Aliyu Garu (Bauchi Federal Constituency), Sani Tanko (Shira/Giade Federal Constituency), and Mansur Soro (Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency).
Also on Thursday, Jeremiah Umaru, who represents Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon/Wamba Federal Constituency of Nasarawa State, announced his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
In their letters, the lawmakers cited internal party disputes and the need to improve constituency representation as reasons for their decisions.
The latest movements highlight growing political realignments within the National Assembly as lawmakers reposition ahead of the next general election.
The defection of four PDP lawmakers from Bauchi is particularly significant, given the party’s traditional strength in the state, and comes amid shifting political dynamics ahead of 2027.
The development follows a series of defections recorded in the House in recent days.
On Tuesday, eight lawmakers left the PDP for the APM, while three others defected from the APC to the PDP and the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
On Wednesday, three members of the House moved from the APC to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The trend has fuelled speculation about emerging political alliances and realignments ahead of the next election cycle.
While defections are common in Nigeria’s political landscape, the scale and timing of the current wave have drawn attention from political observers.
Analysts say internal party crises, leadership disputes and strategic positioning ahead of 2027 are driving the latest movements, as both major and smaller parties seek to strengthen their structures.
For the PDP, the loss of four federal lawmakers from a single state represents another setback in its post-2023 efforts to stabilise its internal cohesion.
Meanwhile, the APM appears to be one of the key beneficiaries of the ongoing realignments, attracting a growing number of lawmakers in recent days.
With the next election cycle approaching, attention is expected to remain on whether the current wave of defections will persist and how it may reshape the balance of power in the House of Representatives.
