ABUJA, Nigeria — Six members of the House of Representatives from Akwa Ibom State have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing unresolved leadership crises within their former party.
The lawmakers—Unyime Idem (Ukanafun/Oruk Anam), Esin Etim (Mbo/Okobo/Oron/Udung Uko/Urue), Ekpo Asuquo (Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium), Uduak Odudoh (Ikot Abasi/Mkpat Enin/Eastern Obolo), Okpolupm Etteh (Eket/Esit Eket/Ibeno/Onna), and Okon Bassey (Itu/Ibiono Ibom)—formally announced their defection during plenary on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, read their defection letters on the floor, confirming their new alignment with the APC.
In a related move, Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo, who represents Ikono/Ini federal constituency, also left the Young Progressives Party (YPP) to join the APC, further consolidating the party’s gains in the National Assembly.
The defectors attributed their exits to internal wrangling within the PDP, although the party leadership has consistently denied the existence of any justifiable crisis warranting such defections.
Kingsley Chinda, the House Minority Leader, strongly objected to the development, accusing the defectors of betraying their mandate.
“The Supreme Court has made it clear what qualifies as a legitimate division within a party. As it stands, there is no such crisis in the PDP,” Chinda said, adding that crossing party lines undermines democratic accountability and voter trust.
The wave of defections follows the high-profile switch of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, from the PDP to the APC in June, a move that analysts say may have emboldened other political actors in the state to follow suit.
With the latest departures, Mark Esset, who represents Uyo/Uruan/Nsit Atai/Asutan/Ibesikpo federal constituency, is now the sole PDP member from Akwa Ibom in the House of Representatives.
The mass defection marks a significant shift in Akwa Ibom’s political landscape, historically dominated by the PDP.
