Seven Akwa Ibom Lawmakers Defect to APC

Seven members of the House of Representatives from Akwa Ibom State have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a significant shift in the state’s political landscape.

The defectors include six lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Unyime Idem, Martins Esin, Paul Ekpo, Uduak Odudoh, Okpolu Etteh, and Bassey Okon and one member, Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo, from the Young Progressives Party (YPP).

This wave of defections comes on the heels of Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno’s recent move to the APC, a development widely seen as the catalyst for the lawmakers’ decision.

In June 2025, Governor Eno announced his defection from the PDP to the APC, citing broad consultations and a desire to align with a progressive political vision.

“Having completed the rounds of my consultations as your servant, I have therefore decided to progressively move to the All Progressives Congress (APC),” Governor Eno declared. “We are not joining the APC from a position of weakness, we are joining the APC from a position of strength.”

Sources close to the defecting lawmakers say their decision is influenced by the governor’s political direction and the perceived need for cohesive governance across party lines.

The mass defection is expected to bolster the APC’s presence in Akwa Ibom, a state historically dominated by the PDP.

Political analysts say the move may significantly alter the 2027 electoral dynamics in the South-South region, potentially increasing APC’s leverage both at the federal and state levels.

Meanwhile, opposition parties are reportedly strategizing on how to recover lost ground.

The defections are yet to be formally acknowledged by the House leadership, but the APC national leadership has welcomed the lawmakers, describing their decision as “a vote of confidence in the vision and direction of the APC.”