Defection: Akwa Ibom Speaker Reshuffles Assembly Leadership

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly leadership has been reconstituted following the defection of 24 out of the 26 members to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the centre.

Therefore, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party that hitherto controlled the House with majority members losing its majority status, the APC has taken over the House.

The latest development, LEADERSHIP Weekend learnt, has brought in its wake, the imperative of restructuring and repositioning the Assembly for the ease of lawmaking.

Consequently, the member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Otobong Bob, has been announced as the new leader of the House at the plenary chaired by the speaker, Elder Udeme Otong (Abak).

He is to replace the former leader and member representing the Onna State Constituency, Hon. Sunday Johnny, who refused to defect with others, “to prove his solidarity and loyalty to the former governor, Udom Emmanuel, his kinsman, who nominated and bankrolled his election,” according to the Assembly source.

Also, Etinan State Constituency representative, Hon. Uduak Ekpo Ufot, another loyalist of the ex-governor, also failed to defect while the member representing Eket State Constituency, Dr Nsidibe Akata, was named the new deputy leader, replacing Hon. Otobong Bob (Nsit Ubium).