7 Lawmakers From Akwa Ibom State Defect To APC

Seven members of the House of Representatives from Akwa Ibom State have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a day after opposition parties launched a new coalition ahead of the 2027 general election.

The lawmakers, six from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP and one from the Young Progressive Party, YPP, formally announced their defection on the floor of the House.

Their letters were read by Speaker Dr Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the session.

The defectors cited internal crises and factional disputes within their former parties as reasons for their move and pledged their loyalty to the APC and expressed readiness to support the party’s success in future polls.

The defecting lawmakers include Idem Unyime, Esin Martins Etim, Paul Ekpo, Uduak Odudoh, Okpolupm Etteh, and Okon Bassey, all of the PDP, along with Emmanuel Ekon of the YPP.

However, Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda condemned the defections, calling them unconstitutional.

Citing a recent Supreme Court ruling, Chinda insisted that the PDP has no recognized division that could justify such moves and demanded that the defectors’ seats be declared vacant.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji