By our reporter
A political earthquake of as yet unknown consequences hit the House of Representatives today as 16 lawmakers defected from the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) to Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), barely 24 hours after political heavyweights Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso dumped ADC for NDC.
Obi and Kwankwaso, who seek a joint presidential ticket (known as OK) to run in the 2027 elections, had, weekend, quit ADC and yesterday berthed in NDC over what they described as internal crises, unceasing judicial issues and alleged external asphyxiation to kill the party.
Since the duo’s defection, reports said the relatively unknown NDC has now registered new membership of over 10 million.
South-West Coordinator, Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, Dr. Adefolaseye Adebayo, who disclosed the figure to newsmen, said the surge showed the popularity of both heavyweights and the hunger by Nigerians for those who can give them good governance and dividends of democracy laced with compassion and care.
The federal lawmakers’ defections were announced on the floor of the House during plenary.
Also announced was the defection of Leke Abejide from the ADC to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Some of the Reps who defected to the NDC were named as Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, and George Ozodinobi.
There were also Reps Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande, Munachim Umezuruike.
Others are Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene and Abdulhakeem Ado.
I Think ADC Is Dead, Says Akpabio
Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said that he thinks the ADC is dead.
Akpabio made the comment during plenary today when he read a letter announcing the defection of Abia South senator, Enyinnaya Abaribe.
Abaribe defected from ADC to the Labour Party (LP).
Reacting to the defections of Obi, Kwankwaso, Abaribe and some others, Akpabio said: “I think ADC is dead.”
He added: “How many times are you defecting? A month? Three times? But let us compile all the list so it doesn’t look like a daily ritual.
“Compile the names of those defecting from all the political parties and their party destinations. If you are moving from ADC, you write, all of you. If you are entering NDC, you write, all of you. If you are going to Accord, you write as well.”
*PHOTO CAPTION: Kwankwaso (l) and Obi.
