On the heels of Senator Godswill Akpabio’s rumoured defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), some lawmakers from Akwa Ibom state have ditched the Senate Minority Leader and one-time governor of the state.
Akpabio’s rumoured defection to the APC had emerged weekend after President Muhammadu Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Prosecution, Okoi Obono-Obla, announced on Facebook that the former Akwa Ibom governor was on the verge of dumping the PDP to the ruling party.
The Senate Minority Leader’s rumoured defection had sparked assumptions that some state and federal lawmakers in Akwa Ibom state may dump the PDP for APC in a show of loyalty to the former governor.
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But reacting to insinuations in the media, the senator representing Uyo Senatorial District, Bassey Albert, has denied any plans of joining Akpabio in the APC if the reports eventually materialise.
Speaking through Mr Daniel Udoh, the chairman of his constituency, Senator Albert said his loyalty to incumbent governor, Emmanuel Udom, remains “100 per cent”.
Udoh dismissed Senator Albert’s defection rumours, saying, “It is not true; it is a lie,” adding that, “Senator Albert is absolutely in support of Governor Udom Emmanuel.
“The people of Uyo senatorial district are committed and are working for the re-election of the governor, and are determined to remain in the PDP.
“The senatorial district is 100 per cent for Governor Emmanuel, so it’s not possible for the senator to do anything otherwise.
“The senator has consulted widely with the people of the senatorial district, and the people are in solidarity with the governor.
“That’s the position of the senator. I am saying this authoritatively,” Mr Udoh said.
Singing a similar song, the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Onofiok Luke, on Sunday, reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP, saying: “I am a full-blooded member of the PDP. I am a principled person, and I like being known for consistency.”