ABUJA, Nigeria — Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday denied ever being a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), despite his previous political activities under the party.

Akpabio made the statement during a Senate session considering a motion in honour of former Kogi State Governor Ibrahim Idris, who died on September 20, 2026.

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The issue arose after Senator Jibrin Isah, representing Kogi East, moved the motion and recalled his political relationship with Akpabio and the late Idris during their time in the PDP. Idris served as Kogi State governor from May 29, 2003, to January 27, 2012.

Akpabio interrupted the lawmaker and rejected the description of him as a former PDP member, saying he had always identified with progressive politics and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“I was never in PDP, my spirit might be there but my heart was never there. I have always been a progressive,” Akpabio said.

However, available details of Akpabio’s political career show that he served as Governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015 under the PDP. During his tenure, he also served as chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.

After leaving office as governor in May 2015, Akpabio was elected to the Senate on the PDP platform to represent Akwa Ibom North-West. He subsequently became Senate Minority Leader, a position he held until 2018.

Akpabio left the PDP for the APC in August 2018, ahead of the 2019 general elections, and has remained a prominent figure in the ruling party.