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By Uwem Offon, Uyo
The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon Udeme Otong, has announced that 24 out of the 26 lawmakers in the Assembly have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Making the announcement during plenary on Tuesday, Otong disclosed that he had received letters of resignation from 24 members who were formerly of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Speaker said the lawmakers cited internal crises within the PDP’s National Working Committee as the reason for their defection.
He did not clarify the status of the remaining two lawmakers or confirm whether he was among the defectors.
Otong further announced that the House Leader, Hon. Sunday Johnny (representing Onna Constituency), now part of the minority PDP, has stepped down from his position. While, the Chief Whip, Effiong Johnson (Mbo Constituency), has been appointed as acting Leader of the House pending the selection of a substantive Majority Leader.
Sources within the Assembly revealed that Uduak Ekpo-Ufot, representing Etinan Constituency, and Hon. Johnny did not joined the mass defection.
Both are said to be loyal to former Governor Udom Emmanuel, who has yet to react to the wave of defections.
Governor Eno, along with members of the state executive council, federal and state lawmakers, local government chairmen, councillors, and political aides, recently dumped the PDP for the APC.
Speaking during a reception for new APC members on Saturday, Governor Eno said the move was aimed at strategically aligning Akwa Ibom State with the federal government under President Bola Tinubu.
