PDP to lose minority leadership as defections continue in Reps

The Peoples Democratic Party is on the verge of losing its position as the leading opposition in the House of Representatives following a sustained wave of defections that has significantly reduced its numbers.

Findings by Sunday PUNCH revealed that the African Democratic Congress, now emerging as a rallying platform for opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general election, could soon upend the current minority leadership structure in the lower chamber.

The ADC’s resurgence has been driven by high-profile political realignments.

The coalition is spearheaded by prominent figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President, David Mark, ex-Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Their alignment under the ADC umbrella reflects broader fractures within the PDP and a strategic push to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

ADC also gained further momentum when former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, joined the party.

Kwankwaso’s defection triggered a ripple effect that saw at least seven members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in the House of Representatives from Kano defect to the party.

As of last week, the ADC’s caucus in the House had grown to 24 members, closing in rapidly on the PDP, which now holds about 30 seats—a sharp decline from the 116 lawmakers it secured at the end of the 2023 National Assembly elections.

The ruling All Progressives Congress has also benefited from the defection trend, further consolidating its majority.

A lawmaker from the North-East, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the PDP’s current standing as the main opposition is only temporary.

“Some lawmakers have defected in the spirit but are yet to transmit their letters to the leadership of the House. That is why it appears the PDP is still the main opposition in the House. By the time the letters get to the Speaker and are read on the floor during plenary, I’m sure the ADC will assume the race of opposition in the House of Representatives,” he said.

The lawmaker added that the implications for the PDP’s minority leadership were inevitable if the trend continues.

“The PDP produced the current minority leader in 2023 because it had the largest number of legislators in the House. If the table turns like we are witnessing now and ADC becomes the main opposition, there is no doubt, it will make a move to produce the new minority leader. It is a matter of when not if.”

Another lawmaker who spoke in confidence with our correspondent said, “The PDP leadership crisis was allowed to linger for too long and today, we are paying the price. There is no doubt that ADC is pushing us further down the pecking order and this is worrisome.”

Since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, the PDP has struggled with internal divisions, leadership disputes, and post-election grievances.

These challenges have weakened party cohesion and made it increasingly vulnerable to defections.

The APC, leveraging its incumbency at the federal level, has continued to attract lawmakers seeking political alignment with the centre of power—often seen as a strategic move to secure influence, constituency projects, and political protection.

However, the rise of the ADC introduces a different dynamic. Unlike previous cycles where defections largely benefited the ruling party, the ADC is positioning itself as a unified opposition alternative, capitalising on dissatisfaction within both the PDP and smaller parties like the NNPP.

The anticipated defection of lawmakers from Bauchi—linked to a possible move by Governor Bala Mohammed—could further accelerate the PDP’s decline in the House.

In the House of Representatives, the minority leadership is traditionally occupied by the largest opposition party.

Should the ADC overtake the PDP numerically, it would gain the constitutional and political basis to nominate key minority principal officers, including the Minority Leader.

Such a shift would not only diminish the PDP’s influence in legislative debates and committee assignments but also symbolise a broader transformation of Nigeria’s opposition landscape ahead of 2027.

With more defections expected in the coming weeks, the battle for opposition dominance in the House appears far from settled—but the PDP’s grip is clearly slipping.