Nigeria, May 2 -- A member of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly who was elected on the platform of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) has defected to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Moses Essien, member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, was formally received into the PDP by Governor Umo Eno on Tuesday in Uyo.

Mr Esssien was one of the two opposition lawmakers elected on the YPP platform last year into the 26-member assembly.

The second member, Asuquo Nana, who is doing a second term was first elected into the assembly in 2019 but later defected to the YPP where he was re-elected for a second term.

The YPP became popular in the state a few months to the 2023 governorship election following the defecti...