The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has witnessed a major political shift as 24 out of its 26 members have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaker of the House, Udeme Otong, made the announcement on Tuesday during a plenary session. He said the lawmakers cited unresolved issues within the PDP’s National Working Committee as the main reason for their decision.
“I have received resignation letters from 24 members of this Assembly who have decided to leave the PDP due to internal problems in the party,” Otong said.
However, the Speaker did not say if he was also among those who defected. He also did not give details about the remaining two lawmakers who have yet to state their positions.
One of the two is believed to be Uduak Ekpo-Ufot, who represents Etinan State Constituency and is known to be loyal to former Governor Udom Emmanuel.
As a result of the defection, the House Leader, Sunday Johnny from Onna Constituency, who remains with the PDP, has stepped down from his leadership role. The Chief Whip, Effiong Johnson of Mbo Constituency, has been named Acting Leader of the House until a new leader is chosen.
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The mass defection is part of a larger political realignment happening in Akwa Ibom. Over the weekend, Governor Umo Eno and many top political figures in the state—including members of the state executive council, federal and state lawmakers, local government chairmen, councillors, and political aides—also left the PDP for the APC.
Speaking at a welcoming ceremony for the new APC members on Saturday, Governor Eno said the move was meant to bring the state closer to the federal government under President Bola Tinubu.
“This is a strategic decision. We believe that aligning Akwa Ibom with the federal government will bring more development and opportunities to our people,” the governor said.