The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is on the verge of benefitting from a wave of defections that will see a large number of federal lawmakers joining its fold.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, has confirmed that discussions are ongoing with several lawmakers across party lines.
According to him, “I am aware that several PDP representatives and senators plan to join the ADC soon,” he said, without providing specific numbers.
There are strong indications that a significant number of 10th National Assembly members are set to defect from their various political parties to the ADC, this newspaper can authoritatively report.
According to multiple sources, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will suffer the biggest defections—about 70%—with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) comprising the remaining 30%.
Currently, APC holds the majority in both the upper and lower legislative chambers, with arrangements underway for more to join the party.
However, insider sources privy to top-level meetings in Abuja and other locations over the weekend, initiated by ADC leaders, revealed that discussions are ongoing for a major harvest for ADC in both chambers.
One source monitoring a meeting led by National Chairman Senator David Mark in Abuja on Sunday night, to collate feedbacks from various parts of the country, confirmed that about 21 senators and 86 House of Representatives members have indicated interest in joining the ADC in the coming weeks; further meetings are scheduled this weekend to bolster the numbers.
“I can tell you authoritatively that 86 House of Representatives members serving in the 10th Assembly and 21 senators are already with the ADC in principle. They have also appointed one Reps member as an anchorman from each state to convince more members to join.
“In Benue State alone, about eight members of the National Assembly are considering leaving the APC for ADC. Six members from Kano State have been recorded so far, with more expected. Borno has a senator standing by, with four reps from the state already noted. From the South East, interest is not as strong for now—two senators and about eight reps in total, but more are expected to join shortly.
“Forget about what you are seeing now. The current defections to the APC are all part of a broader plan, aimed at securing more members for both national and state legislatures and building grassroots support for the ADC. Even some APC governors are quietly supporting this effort,” the source stated.
Another insider at the Benue meeting said that two of the three senators and six of the eleven House of Representatives members (all of the APC) would soon declare for the ADC.
“With the ongoing crisis in the country, especially insecurity, no Benue lawmaker would sincerely prefer to risk their chances on the APC ticket. Securing a valid ticket for APC in Benue is complicated by multiple party camps and potential litigations after primaries. The APC’s inability to resolve lingering internal conflicts could become its undoing. Even the governor is meeting ADC leaders for a possible realignment in 2027.”
A source from Lagos State also confirmed ongoing meetings, revealing that two House of Representatives members (APC) are already in the “ADC kitty”.
He said Senator David Mark’s ADC has been guaranteeing automatic tickets and smooth primaries for serving members, making the party an attractive option for lawmakers unsure of their returning tickets. Mark’s experience as Senate President and his reputational skills in unifying the National Assembly are significant selling points.
He added, “Many young and first-time lawmakers who are uncertain of their future have now discovered ADC as a ‘soft landing spot’ for 2027.”
