Seven Akwa Ibom Lawmakers Defect to APC Amid PDP Crisis

The political landscape in Nigeria’s House of Representatives witnessed another seismic shift on Thursday as seven lawmakers from Akwa Ibom State officially defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The move marks the latest in a series of high-profile political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Details of the Defections

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas formally announced the defections during Thursday’s plenary session, reading the lawmakers’ letters of resignation from their former parties. The group includes six members from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one from the Young Progressives Party (YPP).

The PDP defectors are:

• Paul Ekpo
• Unyime Idem
• Martins Etim
• Okpolu Ukpong Etteh
• Uduak Odudoh
• Okon Ime Bassey

Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo completed the list as the sole YPP member crossing to the APC.

Reasons Behind the Political Shift

The lawmakers cited “deepening division and protracted internal crises” within the PDP as their primary motivation for switching allegiance. In their joint statement, they emphasized that the ongoing turmoil at both state and national levels had severely hampered their ability to effectively represent their constituents.

“The current state of affairs in our former party has made it impossible to fulfill our constitutional duties to the people who elected us,” the statement read in part.

Political Context and Reactions

This development follows closely on the heels of Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno’s recent defection to the APC, signaling a potential realignment of political forces in the oil-rich state. Political analysts suggest these moves could significantly alter the balance of power in the region ahead of future elections.

House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda expressed strong disapproval of the defections, labeling them as “unlawful” and demanding immediate action. “The claim of divisions within the PDP is both inappropriate and legally untenable,” Chinda stated during the plenary session.

The opposition leader called on Speaker Abbas to invoke Section 68 (1) (g) of the Nigerian Constitution, which mandates the declaration of vacant seats for lawmakers who defect without proper justification.

Legal and Constitutional Implications

The defections raise important questions about Nigeria’s constitutional provisions regarding party switching. Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) clearly states that a legislator must vacate their seat if they defect from the party under which they were elected, unless the party is experiencing a division recognized by the courts.

Legal experts are divided on whether the current situation in the PDP qualifies as such a division, setting the stage for potential legal challenges in the coming weeks.

Impact on National Politics

This latest wave of defections continues the trend of opposition lawmakers crossing to the ruling party, potentially strengthening the APC’s position in the National Assembly. The development comes at a crucial time when the government is pushing several key legislative agendas, including constitutional amendments and economic reforms.

Political observers note that Akwa Ibom, traditionally a PDP stronghold, appears to be undergoing significant political transformation that could have national implications.

For more details on this developing story, read the original report at Daily Trust.