Senate President Godswill Akpabio has rejected claims that he was ever a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, saying that although his “spirit might be there,” his heart was never with the party. Akpabio spoke during Tuesday’s Senate plenary as lawmakers considered a motion in honour of Ibrahim Idris, the late former governor of […]
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has rejected claims that he was ever a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, saying that although his “spirit might be there,” his heart was never with the party.
Akpabio spoke during Tuesday’s Senate plenary as lawmakers considered a motion in honour of Ibrahim Idris, the late former governor of Kogi State.
The motion was presented by Senator Jibrin Isah, who represents Kogi East and recalled Idris’ membership of the PDP during his political career.
While speaking on the late governor, Isah told Akpabio that they had both been members of the PDP at the time.
“The late Ibrahim Idris was a member of the PDP; I was there while you were there too, all of us were there,” the senator said.
Akpabio, however, quickly rejected the reference to his alleged membership of the opposition party, drawing attention to his own description of his political identity.
“I was never in PDP. My spirit might be there, but my heart was never there. I have always been a progressive,” Akpabio said.
The remark came despite Akpabio’s extensive political career under the PDP, during which he occupied some of the party’s most prominent elective and leadership positions.
Akpabio served as governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015 on the platform of the PDP, succeeding Victor Attah. During his tenure, he also became chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.
After completing his two terms as governor, Akpabio contested for the Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial seat in the 2015 general election under the PDP and won.
He subsequently emerged as the Senate Minority Leader, a position he held from 2015 until his defection from the PDP in 2018.
Akpabio’s political association with the PDP therefore extended beyond elective office, as he was also a prominent figure within the party at the national level during his time in the Senate.
In August 2018, he announced his defection from the PDP to the APC, joining other prominent politicians who moved to the ruling party ahead of the 2019 general election.
His defection marked a major shift in his political alignment and paved the way for his continued rise within the APC.
Akpabio later emerged as Senate President in June 2023 after securing the backing of the APC leadership and winning the election conducted by senators at the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.
His latest comment in the Senate has now drawn renewed attention to his political history, particularly his description of his relationship with the PDP despite the prominent positions he previously held under the party.
The exchange also highlighted the different ways politicians sometimes describe their past political affiliations, with Akpabio distinguishing between his formal association with the PDP and where he says his political loyalty truly lay.