ONNA, Etinan lawmakers stand firm in PDP amid defection wave in Akwa Ibom
...as Speaker dismisses former Leader from his position
In a significant political move, Hon. Sunday Udoffot Johnny of ONNA and Hon. Uduak Ekpo-Ufot of Etinan have chosen to remain loyal to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) despite a wave of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) within the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
On Tuesday, the House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, announced during the plenary session that he had received twenty-four letters, including his own, notifying of the change of party affiliation from the PDP to the APC.
The Speaker cited internal divisions within the PDP’s National Executive Council as the primary reason for the lawmakers’ departures, referencing Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) to validate their actions.
As a result, he announced that the House Leader, Hon. Sunday Johnny of the 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.
While Ekpo-Ufot left the plenary abruptly, Johnny stayed, indicating his acceptance of the evolving political drama in the state.
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.
