Seven opposition lawmakers from Akwa Ibom State in the House of Representatives have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Six of the defectors were formerly members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP): Unyime Idem, Martins Esin, Paul Ekpo, Uduak Odudoh, Okpolu Etteh, and Bassey Okon. Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo also joined the APC, leaving the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
Their decision to switch allegiance may be linked to the recent defection of Governor Umo Eno, who moved from the PDP to the APC in June 2025.
“Having completed the rounds of my consultations as your servant, I have therefore decided to progressivesly moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC),” the governor had stated.
“We are not joining the APC from a position of weakness, we are joining the APC from a position of strength.”
The governor had earlier told his commissioners and appointees to follow him to the APC or resign their positions.
Interestingly, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, a high-ranking member of the APC, hails from Akwa Ibom State.
Eno’s defection occured weeks after his Delta State counterpart, Sheriff Oborevwori, left the PDP for the APC.
Eno was elected the governor of the South-South state in March 2023 and was sworn in as governor later on May 29 of the same year.
A native of Ikot Ekpene Udo in the Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, Eno was born on April 24, 1964, to the family of Mr Basey Umo Eno, a chief superintendent of police, and Deaconess Eka Umo Eno.