Seven members of the House of Representatives from Akwa Ibom State on Thursday announced their defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The lawmakers, who were elected on the platforms of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Young Progressives Party (YPP), formalised their move through separate letters addressed to the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas.
The defecting lawmakers include:
- Unyime Idem
- Martin Esin
- Paul Ekpo
- Uduak Alphonsos
- Eteh Ikpong
- Emmanuel Udom
- Okon Bassey
Naijaonpoint reports that the major political shift consolidates the ruling party’s growing influence in Akwa Ibom, a state previously regarded as a stronghold of the PDP.
The wave of defections comes just weeks after Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom also made a high-profile switch from the PDP to the APC, a move that surprised many political stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in Cross River State, Alphonsus Eba, has threatened to expel any member who comes out to run for the party primaries against Governor Bassey Otu, in the forthcoming election.
The party chieftain made the declaration during a grand “Thank You” rally and reception held at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar on Thursday, organised by members of the Southern Senatorial District.
The APC threw its weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the incumbent administration in Cross River, led by Governor Otu, declaring full support for their re-election bids in 2027.
Addressing party supporters, Eba said the performance of both leaders in the past year had earned them the party’s vote of confidence.