Abaribe defects to Labour Party as Umeh and Rufai Hanga join NDC

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has announced a fresh wave of defections in the National Assembly, highlighting shifting political alliances ahead of the 2027 elections. Among the latest moves, Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South, has returned to the Labour Party after briefly defecting to the African Democratic Congress.

In a related development, Victor Umeh formally notified the Senate of his decision to leave the ADC and join the Nigeria Democratic Congress. Also, the Deputy Minority Whip, Rufai Hanga, announced his defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the NDC.

In the House of Representatives, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas confirmed multiple defections involving lawmakers who moved to the NDC from the ADC. Those listed include Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande, and Munachim Umezuruike.

Others who also defected are Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene, and Abdulhakeem Ado. In addition, Leke Abejide, representing Yagba Federal Constituency in Kogi State, moved from the ADC to the All Progressives Congress.