John Akpanudoedehe first entered politics as an organiser for the National Union of Road Transport Workers. Later he was elected to Chairman of Uyo Local Government and then chairman of Uyo Council before being elected to the Senate in 1999. His administration was probed by the Akwa Ibom Military Administrator, Navy Captain Joseph Adeusi. In 1997 he won election as Senator for Uyo during the attempted return to democracy under General Sani Abacha. In 1999 he again ran for the Uyo Senatorial District on the People's Democratic Party (PDP) platform, and was elected. He held office until May 2003. After taking his seat in the Senate Udoedehe was appointed to committees on Industry, Labour, Finance & Appropriation, Internal Affairs, Information, Privatisation (chairman) and Government Affairs.
John Akpan Udoedehe was Vice Chairman of the Campaign Organisation for the election of Obong Victor Attah as Governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2003. He was chairman of Godswill Akpabio's successful campaign for Akwa Ibom governorship in 2006/2007. He was appointed Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by President Umaru Yar'Adua on 26 July 2007. His Senate screening managed to pass despite opposition from party leaders in his state. He was relieved of his position on 29 October 2008 in a major cabinet shake-up.
