Senator Godswill Akpabio has formally defected to the national ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at a mega rally held at the Ikot Ekpene township stadium on Wednesday.
No fewer than 30 APC senators and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) were on hand to receive the immediate past Senate minority leader.
Senate majority leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, who introduced his colleagues, spoke on Akpabio whom he described as a nationalist and patriot who believes in Nigeria’s unity.
“This defection surpasses all other defections.
“This is a defection that has shaken the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“They followed Akpabio everywhere to prevent him from defecting but he ignored them,” he said.
The 55-year-old Akpabio is a lawyer and politician who was also Governor of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria from 2007 to 2015.
In 2006, he aspired for the governorship of Akwa Ibom State in a hotly contested primary election and defeated 57 other aspirants to emerge the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He was re-elected for a second term in office as Governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2011.
