The political landscape in Akwa Ibom State witnessed a dramatic shift on Thursday as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officially lost its long-held majority in the State House of Assembly.
This development followed the defection of 24 out of the 26 PDP lawmakers to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
During the plenary session, the Speaker of the House, Elder Udeme Otong, formally acknowledged the receipt of resignation letters from the defecting legislators.
According to the correspondences received, the lawmakers attributed their decision to ongoing and unresolved internal conflicts plaguing the PDP at the national level, particularly within its National Working Committee (NWC).
Despite initially refraining from commenting on the political ramifications of the mass defection, the Speaker later addressed the changes it would necessitate within the legislative leadership.
As a direct consequence, Hon. Sunday Johnny, who represents Onna State Constituency and is now one of only two remaining PDP members in the Assembly, was relieved of his position as House Leader.
In an interim arrangement, Hon. Effiong Johnson, the current Chief Whip and representative of Mbo State Constituency, was appointed to temporarily assume the responsibilities of House Leader, pending the formal nomination of a new occupant for the role.
Meanwhile, political observers and insiders within the Assembly suggest that the refusal of the remaining two lawmakers—Hon. Uduak Ekpo-Ufot of Etinan and Hon. Sunday Johnny of Onna—to join their colleagues in defecting to the APC may stem from deep-seated loyalty to their political mentor, former Governor Udom Emmanuel.
It is widely believed that Emmanuel played a significant role in their emergence as lawmakers, including providing substantial financial and political support during their campaigns.
With this mass defection, the PDP has effectively lost its dominance in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, marking a significant realignment of political power within the state.