…Assembly leadership shaken as House Leader resigns, APC takes control
The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has been plunged into political uncertainty following the defection of 24 out of its 26 members from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, confirmed the mass defection during Tuesday’s plenary session, revealing that he had received formal letters from the 24 legislators announcing their decision to leave the PDP.
The lawmakers attributed their defection to unresolved leadership crises within the PDP’s National Working Committee, a development that has triggered a significant shift in the political alignment of the state legislature.
Although the Speaker did not disclose his own political affiliation or clarify the stance of the two remaining members, insider sources suggest that one of them is Hon. Uduak Ekpo-Ufot, representing Etinan State Constituency, who is widely seen as a staunch ally of former Governor Udom Emmanuel.
In a swift fallout from the shake-up, Hon. Sunday Johnny, representing Onna Constituency, stepped down from his role as House Leader.
The Speaker announced that the current Chief Whip, Effiong Johnson of Mbo Constituency, has been appointed as Acting House Leader, pending the nomination of a substantive officeholder.
This development comes on the heels of widespread reports that Governor Umo Eno has also defected from the PDP to the APC, a move that has further weakened the PDP’s stronghold in the state and handed the APC control over both the executive and legislative branches of government in Akwa Ibom.