Former minority leader of the senate Godswill Akpabip has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Akpabio joined the party at a rally which was held at Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium in Akwa Ibom on Wednesday.
He also dismissed the reports that he moved to the APC because of fear of being witch-hunt by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“Some people are saying I moved to APC because a gun was pointed on my head. A young man wrote a petition against me and the petition was filled with lies… I have never been charged to court… The EFCC did not find anything on me,” he said.
“For those who said I am a traitor, I will never be a traitor. Those who are ganging up to stop the government of the day, we won’t see election if we follow them. We won’t see February 2019.”
He said his entry into the ruling party signals the end of the PDP in not just Akwa Ibom but the Niger Delta.
Akpabio said he joined the APC to move Nigeria forward under President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Our people should be part and parcel of Nigeria. We don’t believe in segregation. The region as a minority cannot stand on its own,” he said.
“The south-south having the major resources of this country should also partake in the sharing of the resources. What I have done today is to take the people of the south-south to the centre; to link Akwa Ibom to the centre.
“As I speak to you now, those who are from the National Assembly are all here. Thousands of you all were in PDP yesterday, are you not in APC today? I accept this broom to sweep away poverty form your life.”
“The country is at war and all the hands must be on deck to salvage the situation and not to aggravate it.
“As keepers of national emergency, everyone should put heads together. I decided to join to emancipate the people and provide succour for the people.’’
…By defecting to APC, Akpabio knowingly walking into danger – Secondus
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Uche Secondus, has said by defectying to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Godswill Akpabio to join the means is unfortunate.
He said the senator, a former governor of Akwa Ibom state, has walked against the tide and endangered his political career.
Secondus said this in a statement issued by Ike Abonyi, his media aide, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Akpabio was received into the APC fold at a ceremony which held at the Ikot Ekpene township stadium.
Secondus said he found it strange that Akpabio would dump the PDP to join the APC, which he described as “a sinking ship,” which every other person is ditching.
The PDP chairman said whatever caused Akpabio’s action must have been triggered by self-preservation and not borne out of any rational strategic political thinking.
According to Secondus, Akpabio’s decision does not have the blessing of the people of Akwa Ibom whose mandate he enjoyed for eight years as state governor and nearly four years now as a senator.
He said: “I cannot fathom any reason why on earth Sen. Akpabio should work against the tide, moving at opposite direction to a place reasonable persons are escaping from.
“How on earth can anybody who has his eyes wide open be seen walking into danger knowingly.”
Secondus accused the APC of arm-twisting and intimidating people into its fold “ostensibly to ruin and disintegrate the person involved”.
He called on the people of Akwa Ibom to be wise and know when to turn their backs from a leader directing them to danger.
“I urge you to remain focused and continue to give support to your hard working governor His Excellency, Emmanuel Udom as he remains unrelenting in the delivering of democracy to the people.” he said.
