In a significant shake-up ahead of the 2027 general elections, seven members of the House of Representatives from Akwa Ibom State — six from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) — have officially defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The move was formally announced on Thursday, July 3, during plenary at the National Assembly in Abuja.
The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, confirmed the defections after reading separate letters from the lawmakers, all indicating their departure from their former parties and declaring allegiance to the APC.
Those who defected include:
- Unyime Idem (Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency – PDP)
- Martin Esin Etim (Mbo/Okobo/Oron/Udung Uko/Urue – PDP)
- Ekpo Asuquo Paul (Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium – PDP)
- Uduak Odudoh Alphonsos (Ikot Abasi/Mkpat Enin/Eastern Obolo – PDP)
- Okpolupm Etteh Ikpong (Eket/Esit Eket/Ibeno/Onna – PDP)
- Okon Bassey (Itu/Ibiono Ibom – PDP)
- Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo (Ikono/Ini – YPP)
These defections come as part of a broader political realignment in Akwa Ibom State, where the state’s governor, Umo Eno, recently dumped the PDP for the APC, citing national interest and the need for “progressive collaboration” with President Bola Tinubu’s government.
AKWA IBOM POLITICAL CROSSOVER:
Governor Eno’s defection in June was the catalyst for the mass movement within the state’s political class. In his statement, he acknowledged engaging in “three months of wide consultations” with key stakeholders before making the jump to the APC.
He expressed gratitude to the PDP for the platform it provided him, but maintained that aligning with the federal government was now necessary to attract more development to Akwa Ibom.
Shortly after declaring for the APC, Governor Eno issued a directive to all political appointees in his cabinet: follow him to APC or step aside.
The pressure resulted in the resignation of Ini Ememobong, the state’s commissioner for information, strategy, and special duties. Ememobong, in a public statement, said his resignation was rooted in personal conviction and ideological differences with the ruling party.
POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS
The wave of defections from the PDP to the APC, particularly in Akwa Ibom — traditionally a PDP stronghold — signals a deepening crisis within the opposition party.
With seven federal lawmakers and the sitting governor now pledging allegiance to the APC, the ruling party has significantly bolstered its influence in the South-South state.
This latest realignment also underscores the growing pressure on opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections, with many defectors citing the need to “work with the center” to attract resources and development to their constituencies.
As Nigeria’s political landscape begins to reshape for the 2027 elections, Akwa Ibom State is emerging as one of the key battlegrounds — and the APC appears to be gaining the upper hand. Whether this momentum continues or sparks internal resistance within the state remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the political earthquake in Akwa Ibom has only just begun.
