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Political Earthquake in Senate as Seven Lawmakers defect to ADC ( full list)

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African Democratic Congress ADC

Nigeria’s political landscape has witnessed another shift following the defection of seven senators from their former political platforms to an opposition party, a development that could alter the balance of power in the National Assembly.

Reports indicate that the lawmakers formally announced their decision during plenary at the Nigerian Senate, citing internal crises within their former parties and the need to align with platforms that better represent the interests of their constituents.

The senators explained that persistent leadership disputes and ideological differences forced them to reconsider their political affiliations.

The defection was formally communicated through letters addressed to the Senate leadership and read during plenary by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.

According to the lawmakers, their decision was driven by the desire to pursue a more stable political environment that would enable them to effectively deliver democratic dividends to their constituents.

Political analysts say the development may have significant implications for legislative activities, particularly as party alignments often influence voting patterns, committee leadership, and policy negotiations within the National Assembly.

The shift also highlights the continuing fluidity of party loyalty in Nigeria’s political system, where defections have become a recurring feature of the democratic process.

While supporters of the move argue that lawmakers have the constitutional right to associate with any political party of their choice, critics believe frequent defections undermine political stability and weaken party structures.

Observers say the coming weeks will reveal whether more lawmakers may follow the same path, potentially reshaping alliances ahead of future political contests.

The Senate leadership has yet to announce whether the development will lead to any immediate changes in committee assignments or legislative responsibilities for the affected lawmakers.

The List

The senators who defected are Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto South), Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo (Nasarawa South), Binos Dauda Yaroe (Adamawa South), Austin Akobundu (Abia Central) and Lawal Adamu Usman (Kaduna Central), all from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Others include Ireti Kingibe (Federal Capital Territory), Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and Tony Nwoye (Anambra North) from the Labour Party (LP), as well as Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

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Lagos 2027 gets hot as Hamzat, Rhodes-Vivour make INEC final list [FULL LIST]

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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has unveiled the final list of Lagos State governorship candidate.

The list is contained in a document released by INEC on Saturday in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

According to the document, the Lagos State deputy governor, Femi Hamzat is listed at the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Also on the list is Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour as the African Democratic Congress, ADC, candidate.

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Find attach below document containing the full list.

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Pantami’s Name Missing As INEC Releases Final List Of Gombe Gov Candidates

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Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami 1784022231 1200x675.webp

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has omitted former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, from its final list of governorship candidates for Gombe State ahead of the February 6, 2027 election.

Politics Nigeria reports that the commission released a list of 16 cleared candidates for the election, but Pantami’s name was missing despite his earlier inclusion in the provisional list published on August 29.

Among the candidates on the final list are Bala Bello Tinka of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Babayo Ardo Kumo of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).

Others include Zubairu Mu’azu Halilu of the Labour Party (LP), Lamela L. Silas of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Ibrahim Jalo Abubakar of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Adamu Mohammed Ma’aji of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Pantami’s exclusion comes amid a series of legal disputes over his emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state.

The former minister had initially sought the APC governorship ticket but left the party after it settled for Gwamna as its consensus candidate. He subsequently joined the PDP and emerged as the party’s flag bearer through voice affirmation at its governorship primary.

However, a Federal High Court sitting in Gombe nullified his initial emergence on May 26, following a challenge to the primary process.

The court ordered a fresh primary election, which Pantami won on September 29 with 2,054 votes, defeating Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry.

Garry had challenged Pantami’s emergence, arguing that the required primary election was not properly conducted before the former minister was declared the party’s candidate.

Despite winning the court-ordered rerun, Pantami’s eligibility remained in doubt following the Supreme Court’s September 24, 2026 judgment on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 governing political party membership registers and candidate eligibility.

The Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026 and upheld INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 elections.

The provisions bar political parties from fielding candidates whose names were not included in the membership registers submitted to INEC within the stipulated period.

INEC has maintained that parties found to have violated the requirements will not be permitted to participate in the elections through candidates whose nominations breach the law.

Mohammed Haruna, an INEC national commissioner in charge of information and voter education, said the commission would not allow parties to replace candidates affected by the provisions.

Haruna made the clarification during an appearance on Trust TV’s programme on Wednesday evening, explaining that allowing substitutions would enable political parties to benefit from their own violations.

INEC Chairman Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan

He cited previous disputes involving Zamfara and Plateau states to illustrate the consequences of parties failing to comply with electoral requirements.

“It’s like you committed an offence. And then, you come and benefit from it,” Haruna said.

He added that allowing parties to substitute candidates in such circumstances would amount to permitting them to benefit from an offence they had committed.

Haruna also indicated that the commission expected to make a definite pronouncement on the implications of the Supreme Court judgment by the following Tuesday.

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