Issues in Akpabio’s defection

The recent decamping of the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC) is indeed a massive blow to the PDP. I say this for two reasons. One is the fact that besides Godswill Akpabio, there is no politician that commands as much followership and respect as he does in the South-South region. And secondly, is the fact that the PDP has lost a significant bone in the build-up to the 2019 general elections.

An excellent example of the goodwill he enjoys could be seen in the massive crowd that attended the rally in the state.

Akwa Ibom under Akpabio’s watch experienced transformation, so much it emerged as model governance in the country. Sometime in 2013, during a visit to Akwa Ibom State by then president Goodluck Jonathan, he said “from what I have seen so far, it is evident that the Akwa Ibom State government is driven by a singular commitment to enhancing the welfare and well-being of the people through infrastructural development and innovation in the provision of infrastructural amenities and human capacity development.”

That is the quintessential Godswill Akpabio. Little wonder why the PDP became jittery when news went round about the eminent decamping to the APC? He was indeed an uncommon governor because he made governance look simple.

And this brings us to the question on his decamping to the APC. So many questions arose. Political strategists tried to give meaning to his leaving, while some tried to understand his game plan. Some marvelled at the dexterity with which he executed the decamping plot. I recall that the various news media were awash with pictures and videos of the decamping ceremony in Akwa Ibom State. It was more like the climax of the decamping period for politicians in the country.

I am sure that some school of thoughts would argue that the decamping of Godswill Akpabio to the APC would mark the end of the continued dominance of the PDP in the South-South region given the fact that he was undisputedly the leader of the PDP in the South-south. If one is to go by this school of thought, it indeed reveals that the APC might have scored a significant political point and a note of warning that the APC is now ready to make inroads into the South-South region come 2019.

In some quarters, it is also stated that the coming of Godswill Akpabio to the APC fold would in addition to the efforts of former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi bolster its electoral chances. In an analysis by one of the major newspapers in the country, it stated that “Like in the case of Saraki, the senator’s defection is certainly going to reflect in the political rhythm of Akwa Ibom where he has a strong base.”

“There is no doubt Akpabio remains one of the key political figures in Akwa Ibom, and arguably the most prominent governor the state has had. Since moving to the Senate in 2015, he still dictates, to a large extent, how things play out in the state’s political theatre and enjoys massive support from both Akwa Ibom citizens and lots of other Nigerians.

And, you would agree, a win for APC in the state in 2019 is going to rub off on the whole of South-south. Currently, the PDP holds sway in five of the six states in the South-south - Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, and Cross River, with only Edo being controlled by the APC.”

“Securing Akwa-Ibom is going to have a huge impact on the PDP control in the region. Akpabio’s defection is the equivalent of one of that once-in-a-while type shaking the transfer market; big money and many caps to his name. He comes with loads of experience in the kind of politics the APC needs ahead of the election. With his influence in the Senate, the APC might as well be on its way to regaining the leadership of the upper legislative chamber - and maybe, having its way into the south-south.

As a flashback, the APC recorded a dismal 58,411 votes as against that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer; former President Goodluck Jonathan had 953,304 votes from Akwa Ibomites. This outlook is likely to change significantly in the 2019 election with the movement of Godswill Akpabio to the APC.

Back to the grand ceremony of his decamping to the APC, insider reports indicate that vehicular movement on Oron-Ikot Ekpene Federal Road, Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State was brought to a standstill in a demonstration of the enormous goodwill he enjoys. The immediate past spokesman of APC, Edet Bassey, expressed optimism that Akpabio’s defection to the party was a good omen for the party given his political antecedent. “The party is like church and the church cannot throw out a sinner. You welcome him or her and change him or her. We welcome him into the party because he has great political value.”

A political commentator stated that Akpabio’s defection is undoubtedly the biggest catch for the APC which had in the past weeks lost several high profile members including three governors, 14 senators and more than 30 members of the House of Representatives. “

Most Nigerians who have indeed commented on the issue thinks the defection of Akpabio to the APC is a big blow to the PDP, and a big boost to the APC signalling that great times lay ahead as the countdown to 2019 continues. This is also with cognizance of the fact that the South-South region comes third in the number of registered voters in the country with 11,101,093 voters as at February 2018. Behind the North West with 18,505,984 and South West with 14,626,800 registered voters. The above figures imply that if the APC can capture the South-South region, it is as good as the election won. And with the defection of the erstwhile political warlord of the area into the APC fold, we might be having a situation where the South-South region would embrace the APC.

As it stands, the signs are visible with the panic mode that has engulfed the PDP in recent times. Its national chairman Uche Secondus was quoted as saying he found it” strange that Akpabio would dump the PDP to join the APC, describing the ruling party as “a sinking ship” which every other person is finding his way out of.”

Uche Secondus also accused APC of ” arm-twisting and intimidating people into its fold ostensibly to ruin and disintegrate the person involved.”

The fact remains that the defection of Godswill Akpabio has indeed opened a new political episode in the politics of South-south Nigeria.