Osinbajo, other APC leaders to officially welcome Akpabio into APC Thursday

The Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, will be officially announcing his defection from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) next week.

Confirming the development, Special Assistant on Prosecution to President, Okoi Obono-Obla, posted a message on Facebook, Saturday night, saying that Akpabio will be received into APC on Thursday by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and other leaders of the party at a rally in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.

Obono-Obla said, “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 also posted a photo of Akpabio with an APC national leader, Bola Tinubu.

Tweeting about the development on Saturday, Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (Senate), also confirmed the defection.

He said, “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”.

Prior to the confirmation, reports circulated on the planned defection of Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom and chieftain of the PDP.

Read also: 2019: God will not forgive me if I support Atiku for president— Obasanjo

Obono-Obla also confirmed the news in an interview with Premium Times. He said, “Senator Akpabio is defecting to the APC, you can take that to the bank”.

When asked about the claim that Akpabio was asking the APC for the position of Senate President, Obono-Obla said, “I cannot confirm that.

“But if he wants the position of a senate president, he is eminently qualified for it”.

Obono-Obla dismissed suggestions that the senator could be PDP’s ploy to destabilize the APC, saying, “I don’t subscribe to that position.

“He is a very ebullient leader. He is very charismatic. I believe his coming to the APC will change the fortunes of the APC in Akwa Ibom in particular, and the South-South in general”.

 

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