The political hurricane of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) continues to sweep through Nigeria’s political landscape as ten National Assembly members from Akwa Ibom State, along with lawmakers from Edo and Nasarawa, prepare to defect to the ruling party.
The mass defection follows the recent move by Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, citing the need to align the oil-rich state with the government at the centre. Eno’s shift mirrors that of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who dumped the PDP in April.
Among those switching allegiance are Senators Ekong Sampson and Aniekan Bassey, and House of Representatives members Okpolupm Etteh, Paul Asuquo, Alphonsus Uduak, Ime Bassey, Martins Esin, Unyime Idem, Mark Esset, and Emmanuel Ukpongudo of the Young Peoples Party (YPP). Their defection letters are expected to be read on the floor of the National Assembly when lawmakers return from recess on June 17.
Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), confirmed the planned defections and hinted that more PDP governors were being courted, including those from Adamawa, Plateau, Osun, and Bayelsa states.
Senator Neda Imasuen (Edo South, Labour Party) and Senator Ahmed Wadada (Nasarawa West, SDP) have also announced plans to defect to the APC. Imasuen cited internal disarray in the Labour Party and the need to align with federal development priorities, while Wadada pointed to ideological rifts and internal conflicts in the SDP.
Despite these defections, some PDP states like Bauchi, Taraba, and Zamfara remain resolute. State party leaders have dismissed the defections as political opportunism and expressed confidence in the PDP’s grassroots strength and loyal leadership. Taraba and Bauchi governors, Agbu Kefas and Bala Mohammed respectively, have reiterated their commitment to the PDP.
As the APC now controls 23 states, political observers warn that Nigeria’s democracy may be sliding toward a de facto one-party state, even as the ruling party insists all defections are voluntary and inspired by President Tinubu’s “visible achievements” under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
