El-Rufai’s son leads fresh Reps defections to NDC, ADC

The Nigerian House of Representatives is witnessing a significant political realignment as five lawmakers, including Muhammed El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, have switched parties. This wave of defections, primarily towards the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), signals a concerted effort by opposition parties to consolidate their strength ahead of future electoral contests.

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The latest defections come barely days after 17 members of the House moved to the NDC, signalling what many observers see as an aggressive effort by opposition forces to build a broad coalition capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress in the next election cycle.

Muhammed El-Rufai's move from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the NDC is particularly noteworthy. It comes amidst a visibly strained relationship between his father, a once-influential figure in the APC and a key ally of President Bola Tinubu, and the current administration. The former governor's failed ministerial nomination and subsequent criticisms of the APC leadership have created political ripples, making his son's defection a potent political statement.

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Though he had maintained a low profile in recent months, his decision to join the NDC is widely seen as a significant political statement, especially given the strained relationship between the former governor and the Federal Government.

These defections are not isolated incidents but part of a larger strategy by opposition forces to forge a broad coalition. The article highlights that 17 members had previously moved to the NDC, indicating a growing momentum for opposition parties seeking to challenge the dominance of President Tinubu and the ruling APC. The lawmakers cited internal crises, leadership disputes, and ideological disagreements within their former parties as reasons for their departures.

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The lawmaker was elected into the House in 2023 on the platform of the Labour Party before joining the APC in March 2026 and now the NDC.

One of the defectors, Joshua Obika, representing the FCT, has now made his third political move in less than two years, illustrating the fluid nature of political alliances in Nigeria. His switch to the NDC aligns him with the burgeoning opposition bloc. Abdulhakeem Kamilu from Kano State resigned from the ADC, citing internal leadership crises within that party. These shifts underscore the dynamic and often turbulent landscape of Nigerian politics, where party loyalties can be fluid and strategic realignments are common.

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Kamilu from Kano State resigned from the ADC, citing what he described as an “internal leadership crisis” within the party.