House of Representatives member Joshua Chinedu Obika has left the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC). The FCT AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency representative’s move comes less than two months after he switched to the ruling APC from the Labour Party (LP) on 11 March 2026.
Obika’s departure follows the APC’s decision not to grant him a return ticket for the upcoming parliamentary elections. Sources close to the party say the denial of a nomination prompted the lawmaker to seek a new political platform. The NDC has reportedly offered him an automatic ticket to contest a second term in the House of Representatives.
The defection adds to a recent wave of lawmakers moving to the NDC, a trend that accelerated after former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso officially joined the party on Sunday. Media Talk Africa notes that several legislators have already announced their intention to run under the NDC banner, signalling growing momentum for the opposition group ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obika’s shift underscores the fluid nature of Nigeria’s party affiliations, where personal ambition and strategic calculations often drive realignments. As the election timetable tightens, the NDC’s expanding roster of former APC and LP members could reshape contest dynamics in the capital territory and beyond.
The House of Representatives will convene later this year to finalize candidate lists, after which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will issue official certificates of candidacy. Observers will watch closely how Obika’s new affiliation influences voter sentiment in AMAC/Bwari and whether the NDC’s influx of defectors translates into measurable electoral gains.
