Akwa Ibom, Nigeria — Seven members of the House of Representatives, made up of six ex-Peoples Democratic Party members and one from the Young Progressives Party from Akwa Ibom State have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The defections brought the number of APC members in the 360-member House of Representatives to 220.
It was earlier reported that the federal lawmakers left with Governor Umo Eno a few weeks ago; the official notification of defection was made known by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, during Thursday’s plenary session.
The defectors are Unyime Idem (Ukanafun/Orukanam Federal Constituency), Martins Etim (Oron/Mbo/Okobo/Urue Offong/Oruko/Udung Uko Federal Constituency), Paul Asuquo (Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency), Uduak Odudoh (Ikot Abasi/Mkpat Enin/Eastern Obolo Federal Constituency), Etteh Ikpong (Eket/Onna/Esit Eket/Ibeno Federal Constituency), Emmanuel Udo of the YPP (Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency) and Okon Ime Bassey (Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency).
In their respective letters, the lawmakers cited growing internal crises within their parties, particularly within the PDP regarding the Office of the National Secretary, with different camps pushing for their nominees to occupy the plum office.
They described the situation as irreconcilable, prompting their decision to resign from the party, a move they claim is justified under Section 68(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution.
The YPP lawmaker also attributed his defection to unresolved leadership crises in his party.
In his reaction, the Minority Leader of the House, Kingsley Chinda, raised a point of order.
He expressed concern over the development, saying “The laws should be applied and the law is clear about what should happen when an elected member defects.”
While acknowledging that Section 40 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of association, he reminded the House that Section 68(1)(g) outlines conditions and consequences for such political moves.
Chinda, who represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, Rivers State argued that the Supreme Court had provided legal clarity on what constitutes a legitimate division within a party.
He insisted that, legally, “No such division exists within the PDP at present.”
He urged the Speaker to act in accordance with the constitution and existing court rulings when addressing the defections.
At a grand rally in June, the APC National Working Committee, led by its former national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje; governors, led by the chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and others welcomed Governor Umo Eno to the APC.
In his speech at the rally, the governor said he did not join the APC alone, adding that all the lawmakers from the state, both at state and federal levels, joined him in a mass defection to the APC.
Margret Oshinowo | July 4, 2025
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