…appoints Effiong Johnson as Acting Leader
Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, has announced that 24 out of the 26 members of the House are now affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
During plenary session, on Tuesday, Elder Otong revealed that he had received resignation letters from 24 lawmakers who were previously members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The lawmakers, according to the Speaker, cited internal conflicts within the National Working Committee of the PDP as the reason for their departure.
At first, Elder Otong did not address the status of the remaining two members, who have yet to declare their positions regarding the defection, nor did he clarify whether he is among the 24 defectors.
He later announced that the House Leader, Hon. Sunday Johnny, of ONNA state constituency, is now part of the minority PDP in the House and should therefore step down from his previous role.
In Johnny’s place, Speaker Otong appointed the Chief Whip, Effiong Johnson of Mbo State Constituency, as the Acting Leader of the House until a new leader is selected.
According to sources within the Assembly, Engr. Uduak Ekpo-Ufot, the representative for the Etinan state constituency, has not joined in the mass exodus to the APC. Alongside Hon. Johnny, Ekpo-Ufot is believed to remain loyal to former Governor Udom Emmanuel, who has yet to respond to the defection of his successor, Governor Eno.
Recently, a wave of prominent figures—including members of the state Executive Council, federal and state lawmakers, local government chairmen, councillors, and political aides—led by Governor Umo Eno, all transitioned from the PDP to the APC.
During a reception party for new APC members on Saturday, Governor Eno explained that his decision to join the All Progressives Congress was partly aimed at strategically aligning the state with the federal government under President Bola Tinubu.
