Seven lawmakers elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the House of Representatives Thursday, defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Also, one Young Progressives Party (YPP) legislator abandoned his party for the APC.
The lawmakers, who dumped PDP are Hon. Etteh Okpolupm, representing Eket/Onna/Edit Eket/Ibeno Federal Constituency, Hon. Ekpo Asuquo, Etinam/Nsit Ubiim Federal Constituency, Hon.Odudoh Uduak, Ikot Abasi/ Mkpat Enin/ Eastern Obolo Federal Constituency and Hon. Okon Bassey, Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency.
The rest are Hon. Martins Esin, Oron/Mbo/ Okobo/ Udung Uko/ Urue/ Offiong/Oruko Federal Constituency, Hon. Idem Unyime, Ukanafun/ Oruk Anam Federal Constituency and Hon. Essiet Udo, Uyo/ Uruan/ Nsit Atai/ Ibesokpo /Asutan Federal Constituency
The lawmaker who defected from the YPP to the APC is Hon. Ukpongudo Effiong representing Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency.
The lawmakers in their separate defection letters addressed to Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, which he read at plenary said that their movement to the APC from their former political parties was due to unending crisis in these parties.
They explained that their decision on the defection was taken after extensive consultations with party leaders and constituents.
Reacting to the development, the House Minority Leader, Hon.Kingsley Chinda called on the speaker to declare the seats of the defecting lawmakers vacant.
He dismissed the allusion to crisis in the PDP by these lawmakers saying that the lastest Supreme Court ruling had affirmed that there is no crisis in the party.
He added that the speaker should toe the part of honour by asking the decampees to vacate their seats in accordance with section 68 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
It will be recalled that the governor of Akwa Ibom, Pastor Umo Enoh has last month defected from the PDP to the APC with almost all members of the state assembly.
