Speaker of Akwa Ibom House of Assembly says presidency offered him N2bn to defect to APC

SPEAKER of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Hon Onofiok Luke has alleged that the presidency offered him N2bn ($5.5m) and the deputy governorship ticket to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Over the last fortnight, Akwa Ibom State has been at the centre of the political drama in Nigeria after the former governor and senate minority leader Senator Godswill Akpabio left the PDP for the APC. His defection has charged the political atmosphere in the state as has led to a series of realignments, with some members of the APC saying he is not welcome in their midst.

Also, the defection of Senator Akpabio has put him at loggerheads with the current governor Udom Emmanuel, who has sacked two commissioners loyal to his predecessor. They include Ibanga Akpabio, the commissioner for labour productivity and manpower development, the former governor's brother and Victor Antai, the commissioner for culture and tourism who is believed to be an ardent Akpabio loyalist.

Speaking at a solidarity rally for Governor Emmanuel and Senator Bassey Albert in Uyo, the state capital, Hon Luke noted that he would rather quit politics than defect to the APC. He added that the recent defection of Senator Akpabio was borne out of personal interest, as it was aimed at grabbing and sharing power.

Hon Luke said: “They said the president had sent word for me to become the deputy governor. They offered me N2bn but I said no. If you like, offer me N10bn, mine is no.

“They have no plan for us and no plans for the future of our state. It was all about them. It was only about power grabbing and power-sharing but by God’s amazing grace, we will overcome them.”

Last week, Senator Akpabio flew to London to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari, where the two men agreed on the terms of his defection. It is believed that in return for joining the ruling party, Senator Akpabio will no longer be subject to investigation by the Economic and Financial crimes Commission.

Following his return to Nigeria, Senator Akpabio was formally accepted into the APC at a rally in his home town Ikot Ekpene, where he was received by party chairman Adams Oshiomhole and leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Senator Akpabio has since resigned from his position as the senate minority leader.