Seven members of the House of Representatives from Akwa Ibom State have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Young Progressive Party (YPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing unresolved internal crises in their former parties.

Their letters of defection were read on the floor of the House by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas during plenary on Wednesday.

The defecting lawmakers are Hon. Unyime Idem, Hon. Martin Esin, Hon. Paul Ekpo, Hon. Uduak Alphonsus, Hon. Eteh Ikpong, Hon. Emmanuel Udom, and Hon. Okon Bassey.

In their respective letters, the lawmakers explained that their decision followed wide consultations with their constituents and was necessitated by deepening leadership and structural issues within their previous parties.

Hon. Unyime Idem, who chairs the House Committee on Public Procurement, stated he was leaving the PDP after 26 years of membership due to worsening internal conflict, particularly over the party’s National Secretary position. He cited Section 68(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution to justify his defection.

Hon. Martin Esin disclosed that he resigned from the PDP on June 17, saying his move to the APC was in line with the aspirations of his constituents.

Other defectors echoed similar sentiments, expressing readiness to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in delivering democratic dividends to Nigerians.

Recall, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, also defected from the PDP to the APC, which signaled a significant political realignment in the South-South state.