In a major shift on the political landscape, seven members of the House of Representatives from Akwa Ibom State have dumped the opposition and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The lawmakers, Unyime Idem, Martin Esin, Paul Ekpo, Uduak Alphonsos, Eteh Ikpong, Emmanuel Udom, and Okon Bassey, were all elected on the platforms of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
Their defection was formally communicated to the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, through separate letters submitted on Thursday, July 3.
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The move is seen as a significant blow to the opposition, especially coming shortly after Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, also left the PDP for the APC, a development that raised eyebrows across political circles.
While the lawmakers did not immediately give detailed reasons for switching sides, their defection reinforces the growing momentum the APC appears to be gaining in the South-South state ahead of 2027.
With these latest defections, the ruling party continues to expand its base at the federal and state levels, tightening its grip on political power and shifting the balance in the National Assembly.