Presidency denies Akpabio has been offered immunity from prosecution as he resigns as minority leader

PRESIDENCY officials have denied that senate minority leader Senator Godswill Akpabio has been granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Last week, it emerged that Senator Akpabio was considering leaving PDP and joining the APC due to intractable differences between himself and Akwa Ibom State governor Udom Emmanuel. Consequently, Senator Akpabio met with vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo to discuss joining the APC and has since met with party leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to perfect the plan.

Over the weekend, Senator Akpabio flew to London to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari who is on a health vacation there and it has now been agreed that he will be received into APC at a special rally in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State on Thursday. This morning, Senator Akpabio resigned his position as the senate minority leader and was reportedly the one who authorised the recent sealing off of the National Assembly by security agents.

It is believed that Senator Akpabio, who faces several major corruption charges, was offered immunity from prosecution by the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC) in exchange for swapping parties. However, Senator Ita Enang, the senior special assistant to the president on national assembly matters, said reports that the lawmaker will be excused of his alleged corruption cases when he finally joins the ruling party were not true.

Senator Enang added: “No condition is attached to Akpabio’s defection from the PDP to the APC. The assured him of a level playing field and a sense of belonging.”

“The APC leadership is in the picture and all our leaders, including Asiwaju Tinubu, are fully in support of Senator Akpabio’s move to our great party. We will accord him all the privileges attached to a former governor and everything is set to receive him on Wednesday.”

This morning, Senator Akpabio resigned in a letter dated August 4, addressed to the senate deputy minority leader Senator Emmanuel Bwacha. In the brief letter, Senator Akpabio did not state any reason for the resignation but just thanked the senate leadership and the PDP for giving him the opportunity to lead the caucus for three years.