Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday assured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that more governors from opposition parties are already preparing to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The former Akwa Ibom State governor made the remark in Owerri during the official launch of “Ten Years of Impactful Leadership of the APC Administration in Nigeria”—a book authored by Governor Hope Uzodimma—as well as the commissioning of projects by President Tinubu.
Akpabio’s assurance comes at a time the APC has been intensifying efforts to consolidate its grip on power across the country, following a series of high-profile defections from opposition parties since 2015.
The ruling party, which came to power after defeating the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2015 general elections, has continued to attract governors, lawmakers, and political heavyweights from rival platforms.
In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, the Senate president praised Tinubu’s reforms and insisted they were already resonating with Nigerians across different sectors.
According to him, “Mr President, with what you have done in the last two years, get ready to receive more governors from the opposition parties. As I speak, there are several governors in Nigeria today, who are ready to be received by you.”
While Akpabio stopped short of naming names, his remark has fuelled speculation within political circles.
Several governors currently battling internal crises in their parties—particularly within the PDP and Labour Party—are believed to be on the radar of APC’s national leadership.
Political observers point to states like Rivers, Abia, Kano, Osun and Benue, where leadership tussles and strained alliances may provide fertile ground for defection moves.
The Senate President further argued that Tinubu’s policy decisions were already winning the confidence of ordinary Nigerians.
“The students, farmers and businessmen are all speaking on the various reforms you have brought into governance, which are now yielding results, in the overall interest and benefit of the people. If we say it, they will accuse us of rubber-stamping your achievements, but the beneficiaries are the ones talking about what you have done,” he added.
Commending Governor Uzodimma for documenting the APC’s journey, Akpabio said, “I believe strongly in development and progress. I thank Governor Uzodimma for deciding to put history in writing, in his 10 years of impactful leadership of the APC administration in Nigeria.
“If you don’t tell your story, others will tell it for you. Progressiveness is not in words; it is in action. The quality of work done by the Governor is of high quality, and the people of Imo State must be very, very excited.”
Recalling his own record as governor nearly two decades ago, Akpabio maintained that his development-driven projects then were proof of his progressive credentials.
He congratulated Uzodimma and the APC national leadership for what he described as a decade of achievements under the party’s watch.
Punch Newspapers
Follow the OSUNDOTLIFE channel on WhatsAppKindly share this story | All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from OSUNDOTLIFE.
Contact: editor@osun.life
WhatsApp: 📲 +2348092333666