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AKWA IBOM, Nigeria - Twenty-four out of the 26 members of the House of Assembly in Akwa Ibom State have switched allegiance from the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This transition occurred shortly after the Governor of Akwa Ibom State defected to the APC and instructed all his cabinet members to follow suit.
Speaker Udeme Otong announced during a plenary session that he received resignation letters from the 24 lawmakers, who cited unresolved internal disputes within the PDP's National Working Committee as their reason for leaving the party.
The Speaker did not indicate whether he was among those who defected or provide details about the two remaining members who have yet to announce their positions.
One of these lawmakers, Ekpo-Ufot, represents the Etinan State Constituency and is known to be loyal to former Governor Udom Emmanuel.
In the wake of the mass defection, the Speaker declared that House Leader Sunday Johnny (Onna Constituency), one of the few remaining PDP members, would resign from his leadership role. Chief Whip Effiong Johnson (Mbo Constituency) has been appointed as the Acting Leader of the House until a new leader is selected.
This defection is part of a larger political shift in Akwa Ibom, which has seen Governor Umo Eno, along with members of the state Executive Council, federal and state legislators, council chairmen, councillors, and aides, realign with the APC.
At a reception held on Saturday for the new APC members, Governor Eno described this shift as a strategic move to better align Akwa Ibom with the federal government under President Bola Tinubu.
