Gale of Defection: Two Serving PDP Senators Join APC in Akwa Ibom

By Rosemary Okoduwa

Senators Sampson Ekong and Aniekan Bassey, representing Akwa Ibom South and Akwa Ibom North-East senatorial districts, respectively, have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The defection was announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Wednesday’s plenary.

This move is seen as a boost to the APC’s strength in the Senate, particularly with the 2027 general elections on the horizon. The defection of the two senators brings the total number of PDP senators in the upper chamber down, while the APC’s numbers continue to swell.

The defection follows a pattern of similar movements in Akwa Ibom State, where Governor Umo Eno recently switched allegiance from the PDP to the APC. This mass defection has sparked speculation about the PDP’s future in the state, which has traditionally been a PDP stronghold.

With this defection, the APC is closing in on a majority lead in the Senate. The party’s growing numbers are expected to give it more influence in the upper chamber, potentially impacting key legislative decisions.

The defection has sparked various reactions, with some speculating about potential implications for the PDP’s prospects in the 2027 elections. Others see it as a testament to the APC’s growing appeal and influence across the country.

The defection of the two senators is part of a larger trend in Akwa Ibom State, where multiple lawmakers have defected to the APC. Six members of the House of Representatives from Akwa Ibom State previously defected to the APC, citing leadership crisis within the PDP