Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday distanced himself from the political identity of the Peoples Democratic Party, despite acknowledging that he was once a member of the party.
Akpabio made the remark during a Senate tribute to the late former Kogi State Governor, Ibrahim Idris, after Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho referred to him as a former PDP member while presenting a motion in honour of the deceased.
“I was in PDP, but my heart was not there,” Akpabio interjected, drawing attention to his own political journey as senators paid tribute to the former governor.
The remark came against the backdrop of Akpabio’s long career under the PDP before his eventual defection to the All Progressives Congress.
Akpabio rose to prominence in Akwa Ibom politics under the PDP, serving as a commissioner before winning election as governor of the state in 2007.
He governed the state for eight years and was elected to the Senate in 2015 on the PDP platform, representing Akwa Ibom North-West.
He subsequently became Senate Minority Leader, placing him at the centre of the PDP’s opposition politics in the National Assembly.
In 2018, however, Akpabio defected from the PDP to the APC, a move that marked a major shift in his political alignment.
Under the APC administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, he was appointed Minister of Niger Delta Affairs in 2019.
He resigned from the Federal Executive Council in 2022 to contest for political office and returned to the Senate after winning the 2023 election.
He was later elected President of the 10th Senate.
The brief exchange occurred as the Senate considered a motion honouring Idris, who died in the United Kingdom on September 20, 2026, at the age of 77.
Moving the motion, Echocho, who represents Kogi East, urged the Senate to honour the former governor and convey its condolences to his family.
Senators described Idris as a significant figure in Kogi’s political history, recalling his tenure as governor, infrastructure projects and business interests.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former Edo State governor and former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, gave a personal account of his encounters with Idris during negotiations over workers’ welfare and minimum wage.
Oshiomhole recalled Idris telling him that if he failed to pay workers, he would not take the money with him to heaven.
Another senator highlighted Idris’ links to Sokoto State, where he established business interests, including a furniture factory and hotel.
Idris served as governor of Kogi State from 1999 to 2003 and remained active in business and political circles after leaving office.
Following the tributes, the Senate observed a minute’s silence in his honour and resolved to send a delegation to his family.
The proceedings, however, were briefly punctuated by Akpabio’s pointed clarification of his past political affiliation, turning an otherwise solemn tribute into an unexpected reflection on the Senate President’s political journey.
