Akpabio resigns as Senate minority leader

As a first step towards his planned defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Godswill Akpabio yesterday tendered his letter of resignation as the minority leader of the senate.
The letter which was addressed to the deputy senate minority leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha read in part: “This letter is to formally inform you of my resignation as the senate minority leader with effect from August 4, 2018.” Akpabio thanked the senate and the PDP for “the opportunity to lead the caucus in the last three years,” and urged them to accept the assurances of his “highest esteem”.
Akpabio is expected to defect on Thursday.
He had previously met with President Muhammadu Buhari and a chieftain of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He is billed to be welcomed to APC with a rally in Akwa Ibom.
Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed told newsmen in Lagos that those who left the ruling party did so for personal interests.
“I welcome it (defection of Akpabio) because all politics is local.
All those who have left us did that for purely personal reasons.
“Since they say politics is a game of number, of course we welcome gladly the defection of the Minority leader like they say it is one-one goalless draw.” On whether Akpabio was being positioned for the position of the Senate President Mohammed said,” that I don’t know”.