Ahmed Lawan, Majority Leader of the Senate, says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)did everything to prevent Godswill Akpabio, the Senate Minority Leader, from defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking at an ongoing rally in Ikot Ekpene to welcome Akpabio to the APC, Lawan equated the capture of Akpabio to the loss of the 14 senators who dumped APC for the PDP.

“This defection has swallowed all other defections. It is oe defection that is more than 14,” Lawan said.

“This is one defection that has shaken the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to its very foundations. They followed Akpabio everywhere. They followed him in Nigeria wherever he went; they followed him overseas to beg on their knees.”

Lawan described AKpabio as “a very uncommon Nigerian, a nationalist who believes in a united Nigeria, who believes in a stable Nigeria, who believes in the administration of Muhammadu Buhari.”

He thereafter asked: “Ikot Ekpene, or let me say Akwa Ibom, do you sincerely and genuinely release to us this very distinguished senator, distinguished Nigerian, uncommon man of integrity, of passion, of patriotism and nationalism to us in the APC caucus?

“Those in favour, say aye.”

The crowd responded with shouts of aye