Godswill Akpabio, lawmaker representing Akwa Ibom North West at the Senate has apologized to members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for dumping the opposition party.
Mr Akpabio, a first timer at the upper legislative chamber will not be returning back to the red chamber as the 9th Senate kicks off on June 11.
The former governor of Akwa Ibom State last year August defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC), promising to deliver the state to the ruling party.
While at the Senate he was rewarded by the PDP with the post of the Senate Minority Leader and that became the first time a first-timer would hold the position.
While defecting, he willingly resigned from his position and clinched the senatorial ticket of the APC but failed to emerge victorious at the February National Assembly elections.
At the valedictory session of the Senate on Thursday, Akpabio apologised to his colleagues in the PDP for the manner with which he left the party.
The former governor also said his stay at the red chamber was that of sadness and happiness.
“I apologize to my colleagues in the PDP for the manner I left,” the outgoing lawmaker said during plenary.
“I know they miss me. My stay in the 8th Senate is a mixture of sadness and happiness,” Akpabio added.
The Senator who recently claimed he was expelled from the PDP is at the tribunal challenging the outcome of the exercise in which he lost to Chris Ekpenyong, candidate of the PDP for the February 23 election.
