President Muhammadu Buhari met with the Senate minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio in London ahead of the lawmaker’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Presidency sources told Daily Trust yesterday.

The President met with Akpabio, 48 hours after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo met with him at the Presidential Villa. Daily Trust exclusively reported the Thursday’s meeting of the Vice President with Akpabio.

It was gathered that the meeting of the President and Osinbajo with Akpabio were in connection with the defection of the former Akwa Ibom governor to the APC.

Buhari commenced his 10 days vacation in London on Friday. Our correspondent reports that his meeting with Akpabio was his first public engagement since the commencement of his vacation.

Contacted, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (Senate), Senator Ita Enang confirmed the president’s meeting with Akpabio.

Enang who is also from Akwa Ibom State, said the meeting held yesterday morning in London and was in connection with the former governor’s defection to APC.

“He has finished the London meeting with the President. He is the minority leader and for someone of his status to come over to your party you need to discuss with him at the highest level,” Enang said in a phone interview.

He said the former governor would be received in Akwa Ibom on Wednesday by Osinbajo and other APC stakeholders.

Our correspondent reports that if Akpabio decamps, he would be the second senator from Akwa Ibom to join APC. In January last year, Senator Nelson Effiong (PDP, Akwa-Ibom South) joined the APC.