Senate President Godswill Akpabio has opened up about his decision to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), revealing that his ultimate goal is to ensure the ruling party claims all the states in the South-South region ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking during a visit from Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State at his residence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Akpabio emphasized that the strategic move was aimed at securing a stronger political presence for the South-South in the national sphere. According to Akpabio, aligning with the APC would offer the region more influence and control in shaping the country’s future.

“In the APC administration, many of us felt the need to shift our political allegiance to ensure our people at the national level are better represented,” Akpabio stated. “When I moved to APC, it was about bringing the South-South closer to the center of political power.”

The Senate President further expressed confidence that the APC would make significant inroads into South-South politics, with the region poised for a political shift that could dramatically alter its developmental trajectory.

The South-South region currently sees the PDP holding sway in Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States, while the APC governs only Edo State. Akpabio’s assertion that the APC is on track to claim more states in the region reflects a bold ambition for the party’s growth in the upcoming electoral cycles.