The Nigerian National Assembly became the epicentre of political turbulence this week as a wave of defections swept through the House of Representatives, signalling that the scramble for the 2027 general elections has well and truly begun. Leading the charge was Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, the son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who officially dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The announcement, made after Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read his resignation letter on the floor during plenary, sent immediate shockwaves across the political establishment.
The significance of this departure extends far beyond one legislator switching parties. The El-Rufai name carries enormous political weight in northern Nigeria, and Bello’s move comes at a time when his father has grown increasingly critical of the Tinubu administration. Mohammed El-Rufai’s departure follows months of speculation regarding his political prospects, particularly after his father repeatedly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration and accused the ruling party of neglecting internal democracy and marginalizing loyal stakeholders.
Bello was not alone. Joining the ADC alongside him were two members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Kaduna State, Reps Umar Ajilo and Suleiman Yahaya Richifa. The Speaker also announced the defection of Kamilu Ado, a lawmaker from Kano State, from the ADC to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and the resignation of Rep. Joshua Obika from the APC to the NDC.
In his own words, Bello framed the decision as one of principle. He described his departure as “guided by courage, conviction, and the unshakable belief that our people deserve the very best,” adding that he would seek re-election to the House of Representatives under the ADC platform. He also unveiled a Primary Health Care initiative for his Kaduna North constituency, including plans to equip health centres with medical supplies, suggesting he is building a grassroots case for his 2027 return.
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All lawmakers involved in these defections cited internal conflicts and a lack of clarity within their previous parties as the primary drivers for their decisions, according to the News Agency of Nigeria. However, political analysts argue the real driver is the increasingly crowded opposition space ahead of 2027, with parties like the NDC, ADC, and the Labour Party all vying for disaffected lawmakers and voters.
The APC has not formally responded to Bello El-Rufai’s departure, and its leadership in Kaduna State was notably silent as of filing time. Meanwhile, the NDC continues to attract high-profile names, including Peter Obi, whose own defection from the Labour Party has added an entirely different dimension to the evolving opposition dynamics. Nigerians are watching closely to see how many more names follow before the formal campaign season kicks off.
Today’s Key Highlights:
- Bello El-Rufai formally dumps APC for ADC, citing lack of internal democracy
- Four other lawmakers defect in the same plenary session
- El-Rufai senior’s ongoing criticism of Tinubu seen as political backdrop
- NDC emerges as a major beneficiary of the defection wave
- 2027 political realignment now happening at an accelerating pace