I Joined APC Because PDP Was A Wrong Party For Me— Akpabio
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has declared that his decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) was driven by his belief that he had been in the "wrong party," describing himself as a progressive who found his rightful political home in the ruling party.
Akpabio made the remarks on Friday during the inauguration of access roads to the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates in the Karsana District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), held as part of activities marking President Bola Tinubu's third anniversary in office.
Reacting to comments by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who described him as an "uncommon performer" during his days in the PDP, the Senate President urged members of the APC National Working Committee not to misunderstand the remark, noting that it referred to a period before the APC was established.
"Please ignore the comment of the honourable minister that I was an uncommon performer in PDP. He is not talking about PDP of today," Akpabio said.
He explained that he had already served for more than seven years as Governor of Akwa Ibom State before the APC was formed in 2014, adding that the emergence of the party aligned with his political ideology.
"A progressive-minded person like me should belong to a progressive family. And therefore, when APC came to be, I discovered that that was my group, that I was in the wrong party called PDP. So I took my exit early and joined the progressives," he stated.
The Senate President also said the PDP had become deeply divided, describing Wike as the "national leader of the winning faction" of the opposition party.
"Shortly after that, you now know what happened to PDP. They are fragmented. So, I don't know how you are going to put it together, but I recognise you as a national leader, national leader of the winning faction of PDP because you are doing well," he added.
Akpabio also recalled Wike's visit to Akwa Ibom during his tenure as governor, saying the FCT minister toured one of the state's underground drainage projects and remarked that he would "perform miracles" if given the opportunity to govern Rivers State.
The latest comments add to Akpabio's recent criticism of the PDP. Earlier this week, while inaugurating Akinwumi Ajibola Street in Abuja, the Senate President said he was surprised the opposition party was still in existence and jokingly urged Wike to allow it to "die."