Akpabio might defect to the APC once the “terms” are agreed.
The APC is upbeat about the prospect, which analysts believe will be a major political mileage for President Muhammadu Buhari in the South-South.
A PDP top notch said last night that the party has been appealing to the ex-governor not to defect “but we cannot please him and then displease the governor of the state, Udom Emmanuel, who is the PDP leader in the state.”
There is no love lost between Akpabio and Emmanuel who he practically made in 2015.
Notwithstanding, Akpabio showed signs of his departure from the PDP on Thursday when he boycotted the special meeting of the National Executive Committee of the PDP held to welcome defectors including Senate president Bukola Saraki and governors Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Samuel Ortom (Benue), among others.
A top APC source, who spoke in confidence with The Nation, said: “The APC and some of our leaders are in serious talks with Akpabio, who is rated as a matchmaker in the South-South."
A PDP insider said, “Some of our leaders have been comparing notes and there is this suspicion that Akpabio might defect because of multiple cases he has with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)."
But many PDP leaders in Abuja believe the Presidency is enticing Akpabio to the APC with a promise to stop his alleged corruption case with EFCC.
