• APC courts two senators from Edo and Nasarawa to leave the SDP and LP, ten members of the A’Ibom NASS to join Eno, and four PDP governors.
Ten members of Akwa Ibom State’s National Assembly, who were chosen on the platforms of the Young People’s Party and the Peoples Democratic Party, have decided to join Governor Umo Eno in the All Progressives Congress.
They join Neda Imasuen and Ahmed Wadada, two senators from Edo and Nasarawa, respectively, who had intended to switch to the ruling APC.
This occurred shortly after the ruling party acknowledged that, in spite of claims that it was trying to create a one-party state in Nigeria, it was trying to recruit four more PDP governors to join it.
Several senators and representatives from Akwa Ibom stated that they intended to join the APC, but they chose not to speak publicly because they felt that the proper legislative procedure needed to be followed.
In an interview with The PUNCH, Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, the APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), confirmed the MPs’ intention to switch to the ruling APC.
Members of the House of Representatives Okpolupm Etteh, Paul Asuquo, Alphonsus Uduak, and Ime Bassey, as well as Senators Ekong Sampson (Akwa Ibom South) and Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North-East), are among the PDP lawmakers who have sworn loyalty to the APC. Mark Esset, Unyime Idem, and Martins Esin are additional.
According to reports, YPP member Emmanuel Ukpongudo has decided to defect to the APC.
This event follows Governor Eno’s switch to the PDP last Friday. He mentioned the necessity of bringing the oil-rich state into line with the central government.
Eno followed Sheriff Oborevwori, the governor of Delta State, who left the PDP for the APC in April.
Hope Uzodimma, the governor of Imo State and the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, led the APC team that welcomed Eno into his new party.
President Bola Tinubu’s intense interest in the event and his preparation for the 2027 election were highlighted in a video posted on the official APC X (previously Twitter) feed after the events on TVC News.
The governor announced last week, “I have decided to progressively move to the APC,” when speaking to party leaders and his supporters in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom state. Our government has always been inclusive, and it will continue to be so.
He went on to say that “three months of wide consultations” with important stakeholders around the state led to his conclusion.
Fellow Akwa Ibomites, we are assembled here today to observe change while simultaneously reaffirming the stability of our state’s defining ethos and shared values.
“The news of my probable departure from the PDP, the party that had given me the levers and ladder of my political ascent to the post of governor of this state, has been rife in the political arena for a while now, especially in this state and the country at large.
Throughout the process, the conversations have generated multiple levels of analysis. I’m here today to address a few of those persistent queries. As said by the Dalai Lama, we must maintain our common principles while remaining receptive to change.
“Earlier this morning, I gave my ward chairman my official letter of resignation from the PDP, and a copy was also forwarded to the national and state chairs. For this reason, I have made the decision to gradually switch to the APC.
However, the governor of Akwa Ibom State only succeeded in persuading federal parliamentarians elected on the platform of the PDP to join him in the APC, along with one from the YPP, as some of his appointees. This is in contrast to Governor Oborevwori, who defected with the whole Delta State PDP apparatus into the APC.
Instead of defecting with the governor, three commissioners left Eno’s cabinet.
Udom Emmanuel, Eno’s immediate governor and political godfather, did not attend the defection ceremony.
According to reports, Udom pledged to stick with the PDP no matter what happened.
According to one lawmaker, they made the decision to support Eno voluntarily.
“On June 6th, we departed with the governor,” he continued. By “we,” I mean every member of the Akwa Ibom State-based PDP National Assembly, including one YPP member. We went to the APC after our leader.
The politician responded, “There was no pressure from any angle,” when asked if there was any pressure behind the defection.
When the federal lawmakers, who are currently on holiday, reconvene plenary on June 17, an aide to one of the MPs revealed that Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Hon. Tajudeen Abbas would read their defection letters on the National Assembly floor.
They’ve made the decision to follow the governor. Of course, we are aware that the Senate floor will be the site of formal activity. Nevertheless, they all decided to join the APC.
The eight additional members of the House of Representatives, in addition to the two senators, were PDP members until Friday.
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