Akpabio: PDP senators regret choice of leader

Senators on the platform of the main opposition party in the senate, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , have regretted the delay in getting rid of the former Governor of Akwa-Ibom state, Senator Godswill Akpabio as Minority Leader, when his commitment started waning within the last one year.
The senators said however that the party would get over the disappointment and appoint a vibrant replacement who would lead the business of the party in the Senate successfully.
One of the Senators disclosed that some months ago, it came to the knowledge of the Senate PDP caucus that the minority leader was having some challenges.
A number of our colleagues noticed it and called for leadership change, but the former governor went round, begging for cooperation.
With emerging developments, those who moved for his replacement are now vindicated,” the senator said.
The source further added: “We got to know late that he was no longer one of us.
We had thought of removing him as minority leader since last year and ostracize him from serious plans but two senators prevailed on us and pleaded that he would change.
All along, we suspected that he was having contacts with the ruling party.
“Twice it was reported that he visited the Presidential Villa and he never denied.
A number of our members were worried, what would a minority leader be doing in the Villa, without the Senate President or other principal officers? For instance, apart from keeping away from all the campaigns on the governorship of our candidate in Ekiti state, he was actually linked with working closely with the ruling APC on the matter of that election.
“Even as tight as we thought we had kept our plans on the defection of 14 APC senators on July 24, the ruling party and the presidency were briefed on every step and our members were worried.
“We realized late that he was double-dealing with the Modu Sheriff faction during our struggle to reclaim our party from the hawks”.
plans to replace the Minority Leader before the resumption of the upper legislative chamber from his ongoing recess.