At least 10 lawmakers from Akwa Ibom State, including Senators Ekong Sampson and Aniekan Bassey, and Representatives members Okpolupm Etteh, Paul Asuquo, and others, have decided to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Young Peoples Party (YPP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside Governor Umo Eno.
The APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), Ijeoma Arodiogbu, confirmed that the lawmakers had pledged their allegiance to the ruling party. Governor Eno had recently resigned from the PDP and joined the APC, stating, “I have decided to progressively move to the APC. Our government has always been an inclusive government, which will never change.”
The lawmakers said they followed the governor’s lead without any pressure. One lawmaker said, “We left with the governor on June 6. When I say we, I mean all the PDP National Assembly members (from Akwa Ibom State), including one YPP member. We followed our leader to the APC.”
Their defection letters are expected to be read on the floor of the National Assembly when lawmakers resume plenary on June 17. The move has sparked internal resistance, with at least three commissioners resigning in protest and former Governor Udom Emmanuel reiterating his loyalty to the PDP.
