The gale of defections in the House of Representatives continued on Thursday as seven members from Akwa Ibom State announced their defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Among those who defected include six from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one from the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
Their defection letters were read on the floor of the House on Thursday by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas during plenary.
The lawmakers cited deepening division and protracted internal crises within the PDP as the reason for their decision to leave the party.
The defectors from the PDP include Paul Ekpo, Unyime Idem, Martins Etim, Okpolu Ukpong Etteh, Uduak Odudoh and Okon Ime Bassey.
Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo of the YPP also defected to the APC.
The lawmakers said the crisis within the PDP in Akwa Ibom and at the national level had made it difficult for them to effectively represent their constituents.
The defections come a few weeks after the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno defected to the APC.
Reacting to the defections, the House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, expressed sadness over the development.
Chinda said the claim of divisions within the PDP was inappropriate and unlawful.
He described the defections as unlawful and urged the Speaker to act in line with Section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution by declaring their seats vacant.
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