The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has tackled the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, asking him to “perish the thought” of taking over control of Akwa Ibom State in 2027. This is in response to a statement credited to Senator Akpabio while receiving the Governoship Candidate of the Young Progressives Party, YPP; Senator Bassey Albert, who recently defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC . The PDP stated that the ploy to use false claims and inciting comments to destabilise the state has failed. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party advised the Senate President to come to terms with the fact that the people of Akwa Ibom are firmly rooted in the PDP as a peaceful and united people blessed by God, especially under the immediate past and current administration. The statement said: “They cannot be swayed by any agent of disunity, incitement, hatred and retrogression whose intention is to use propaganda and hate speeches to derail, as well as appropriate the state for selfish interest. “The boast by Akpabio to take over Akwa Ibom in 2027 is pathetically empty. “Our party advises Akpabio to leave Akwa Ibom alone and focus on the challenges of his office as Senate President.” The PDP urged the people of Akwa Ibom to disregard Akpabio’s antics and remain united in their determination to build their state under the banner of the PDP.