Akpabio Likely Exit From PDP Rattles Party

The People Democratic Party (PDP) has been troubled by the recent correspondent between ex-Governor Godswill Akpabio, the senate Majority Leader and the All Progressive Congress (APC), as they seems to be in serious talks as regards the possibility of the leader joining the party.

The Nation reports that Akpabio would be leaving the PDP for the APC any moment from now if the terms of their union is rectified.

Akpabio’s venturing into the APC would no doubt be a big boost for the APC and the fate of President Muhammadu Buhari during the 2019 election in the South South Region of the country.

A PDP top notch said last night that the party has been appealing to the ex-governor not to defect “but we cannot please him and then displease the governor of the state, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, who is the PDP leader in the state.”

Akpabio potential exit from the PDP is not unconnected to the fall out between him and the current Udom Emmanuel’s government in Akwa Ubom State.

Report has it that Akpabio was slated to official leave the PDP on the 24th of July, but the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki failed to recognice his letter, as the senate president got wind of his move, to make his intention public.

The absence of Akpabio at the special meeting of the National Executive Committee of the PDP held to welcome defectors including Saraki and governors Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Samuel Ortom of Benue state, among others was another indication of his eminent exit from the party.

A top APC source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “The APC and some of our leaders are in serious talks with Akpabio, who is rated as a matchmaker in the South-South.

“The talks border on more deals for the South-South, especially increase in derivation formula; enhanced infrastructure for oil producing areas; how to sustain the ongoing reforms by President Muhammadu Buhari; and arresting the developmental slide in Akwa Ibom State.

“The former governor said his likely defection to APC is informed more by patriotism than selfish interest.”

The source added: “The terms are still being worked out, but APC is favourably disposed to Akpabio’s defection.

“The ex-governor has an open mind, he has no airs and he does not pretend in asking for a better nation which he thinks Buhari can offer.

“In fact, it was part of the talks that made him visit Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday when the PDP national EXCO was meeting in Abuja.

“We will no doubt accept him into APC. This is a major development from the South-South.”

The PDP has been greatly moved and concerned by the possibility of Akpabio’s exit from the party, and action has been taken to ensure the move does not happen.

A member of the National Executive Committee of PDP said: “I think Akpabio has irreconcilable differences with Governor Udom Emmanuel and our leaders stepped into the matter and initiated reconciliation.

“If at the end he is defecting, we are suspecting that he wants to join the APC to settle scores with Emmanuel in 2019. The two leaders have been managing themselves, but Akpabio seems unhappy with the governor.

“We felt that defection is not an ideal option for Akpabio. Maybe he has another agenda.”

A member of the NWC said: “By the policy of our party, Governor Emmanuel cannot be denied the right of first refusal for the PDP gubernatorial ticket in 2019. We cannot abandon him to please Akpabio.

“You can see that as soon as Governor Samuel Ortom defected, he was automatically made the leader of PDP in Benue State.

“The power equation in PDP at present in Akwa Ibom State does not favour Akpabio. He is bound to be embittered.

“Some of our leaders have been comparing notes and there is this suspicion that Akpabio might defect because of multiple cases he has with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“The sad aspect is that the Senate Minority Leader does not share his position with anyone.

“At one of our meetings during the week, we all noticed that Akpabio was not vibrant and articulate in his speech. He spoke like a despondent leader who is fed up with PDP.

“Our fears were confirmed when he boycotted the NEC meeting on Thursday. He said he was travelling abroad, only for us to see him at the Villa with VP Osinbajo.

“Earlier, we learnt that he had wanted to defect to APC on the floor of the Senate on July 24, but the President of the Senate, Dr. Saraki, who got intelligence report, did not allow him to have his way. “

In what APC senators saw as a clear abuse of his position as Senate President, the APC has faulted the alleged refusal of the Senate President to read the letters of some PDP Senators who have decided to leave the party for the ruling party APC.