A former governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio, has been reported to be set to leave PDP for APC.
There have been reasons given for his possible defection and the major reason is that he feels he is being blackmailed.
According to a report on the Punch, a source spoke on Akpabio’s plans and things have looked even more suspicious after he had a meeting with Vice President Osinbajo.
According to the source who wished to remain anonymous, Akpabio had been told that if he did not deliver Akwa-Ibom to the APC, he would face the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
“What is happening is that the APC has threatened to deal with him, using the EFCC and he doesn’t want that at all.
“Although, we are all pleading with him not to leave the party (PDP), but he is afraid. He doesn’t want to be in EFCC’s net at all. He is really under pressure but we hope that he would listen to us,” the source said.
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In another report in the Nation, PDP have reacted to the reports that Akpabio might defect and have explained what they think might be the cause, mainly his rift with Governor Udom Emmanuel.
“I think Akpabio has irreconcilable differences with Governor Udom Emmanuel and our leaders stepped into the matter and initiated reconciliation.” the PDP source said
“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.”
According to the Nation, another source 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.
“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.”