Former Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, has said that rather than have anything against the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, he would rather sympathise with them.

Akpabio stated this while receiving members of the party from Itu Local Government Area, led by a current member of the House of Assembly, Hon Idong Ituen, who came to formally inform him of their decision to dump the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A statement by his media aide, Jackson Udom, quoted the former governor as saying: “I have nothing against the PDP in Akwa Ibom. In fact, I am in sympathy with them because a government that wants a second term should be campaigning on the basis of what they have done instead of abusing others on the other side.”

Akpabio also took a swipe at political leaders in the state, who play up the issue of ethnicity and religion in the process of choosing credible national leaders, asserting that the Bible and Quran have one central theme which is love.

Akpabio reminded the people, of the God factor in the emergence of leaders, saying: “In 2015, we all had our choices, but God had His way, by bringing President Muhammadu Buhari. What does that tell us? That no matter what we do, 99 per cent are of human effort and only one per cent belongs to God and that is when you become successful.”

He also assured President Buhari and the leadership of the APC of the unprecedented support the people of the state have for the re-election of the President and other candidates of the party in the state next year, saying: “Let me assure our dear president that over one million voters in Akwa Ibom State are anxious and patiently waiting to return him and other candidates of our great party into office with their votes in February next year. In fact, they want the election to be held next month.”

The former governor of the state stated further that “those who are saying Akwa Ibom is PDP and PDP is Akwa Ibom, are living in their past because the train of victory had left the station while they were still in their bathrooms “

He advised religious leaders and political critics in the state who saw those joining the APC as anti-Christ to watch their utterances, describing them as the real anti-Christ, asserting that no Christian leader, Pastor or Bishop would preach hatred instead salvation.