Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, is set to dump to dump the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) multiple sources have claimed.
The governor of Akwa Ibom State paid a visit to APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu on Saturday and is expected to formalise his defection to the ruling party in a matter of days.
Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, in a Twitter post on Saturday said APC will receive Akpabio on Wednesday.
I’m confirming that the @APCNigeria family as earlier indicated will formally receive H.E,@godswill_akpabio on WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8,2018 at an elaborate ceremony in Akwa-Ibom State.Senator (Dr) ITA ENANG.Presidential Liaison to the National Assembly- Senate. Sen@itaenanglaw2.com pic.twitter.com/Cu8SpXTHYE
— Senator Ita Enang (@SenItaEnang) August 4, 2018
Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, Okoi Obono-Obla, had earlier posted a message on Facebook on Saturday night, saying Akpabio will be received into APC on Thursday by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and other top leaders of the party at a rally in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
Obono-Obla also posted a picture of Akpabio’s visit to Tinubu.
“There shall be an APC Rally at Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Abasi Ibom State on Thursday the 9th August 2018 to receive the former indefatigable Governor of the State, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Akpabio to the All Progressives Congress! Acting President Osinbajo accompanied by Senator Ita Enang and leaders of the APC in Akwa Ibom will formally receive Senator Godswill Akpabio into the APC at Ikot Ekpene Stadium on Thursday, August 9, 2018,” Obono-Obla wrote.
Akpabio had earlier met with Osinbajo in Abuja in what is believed to be to a move to properly situate his defection plan.
It is claimed that the senator was asking for the position of the Senate president and also that he should be made the APC leader in Akwa Ibom and the party political structure handed over to him.
His defection is surprisingly coming at a time several APC leaders, including the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, have defected to the PDP.
It is believed that the senator’s political differences with Governor Udom Emmanuel may be responsible for his defection.
Governor Emmanuel, meanwhile, on Saturday night convened an emergency PDP leaders meeting in Uyo.
The defection of Senator Akpabio is believed to have been top on the agenda of the meeting.
It is feared that Akpabio has divulged PDP’s strategies at state and national levels to the APC in an alleged attempt to secure protection from prosecution.
