The lawmakers who switched sides include Unyime Idem, Martins Esin, Paul Ekpo, Uduak Alphonsus, Okpolupm Etteh, Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo, and Mark Esset.
Seven members of the House of Representatives from Akwa Ibom State have dumped the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Young Progressives Party (YPP), defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defections were announced during Thursday’s plenary session of the House, which SaharaReporters monitored via a YouTube livestream on NASS TV.
The lawmakers who switched sides include Unyime Idem, Martins Esin, Paul Ekpo, Uduak Alphonsus, Okpolupm Etteh, Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo, and Mark Esset.
One of the defectors, Martins Esin, who represented Oron/Mbo/Okobo/Udung Uko/Urueoffong Oruko Federal Constituency under the PDP, cited internal crisis in the party as his reason for leaving.
“Due to leadership crisis and divisions within the Peoples Democratic Party, consequently, I have chosen to pursue my legislative mandate under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC),” a letter from Esin to the House leadership read.
Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, welcomed the lawmakers to the ruling party.
“Congratulations and welcome to APC. Members of APC here can we please appreciate him,” Abbas said, prompting applause from APC members.
This comes barely a month after Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, also formally defected from the PDP to the APC.
The governor made the announcement during a ceremony held on Friday, June 6, at the Government House in Uyo.
The event was attended by prominent APC leaders from across the country.
He declared that he had decided to “progressively move to the APC,” adding that he had earlier submitted his letter of resignation from the PDP to the ward chairperson.
Eno was elected as governor under the PDP in 2023.
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