The Office of the President of the Senate has debunked reports alleging that Senate President Godswill Akpabio promised to secure senatorial tickets for lawmakers who lost in the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Akpabio’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, described the reports as false and a distortion of the Senate President’s remarks.
Eyiboh clarified that Akpabio neither promised nor authorised any assurance of automatic tickets for senators affected by the outcome of the party primaries. Rather, he said the Senate President only expressed sympathy for colleagues who were dissatisfied with the results of the exercise.
According to the statement, Akpabio assured the affected lawmakers that the APC leadership was already addressing concerns arising from the primaries and that the final list of candidates would be released in line with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.
“What the President of the Senate actually said was to empathise with senators who were negatively affected by the outcome of their primary elections.
“He assured them that the APC leadership is actively working to resolve all issues arising from the primaries and that the final list of candidates will be released in due course in accordance with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines,” Eyiboh stated.
The Senate President’s aide further stressed that Akpabio remains committed to due process, party discipline and the APC’s internal dispute-resolution mechanisms. He noted that the Senate President would not interfere with the party’s independent processes or make commitments beyond the authority of the National Assembly leadership.
The statement also addressed reports claiming that Akpabio opposed legislative scrutiny of the military over recent security challenges. While affirming that legislative oversight is a constitutional duty of the National Assembly, Eyiboh said Akpabio believes that a public investigation of the Armed Forces at this time could negatively affect the morale of troops engaged in counter-terrorism and anti-banditry operations.
According to him, the Senate President prefers collaboration and closed-door engagements with security agencies rather than public hearings that could distract military personnel from ongoing operations.
“Senator Akpabio’s position is that this is not the right time for a public probe of the Armed Forces. With troops currently battling terrorism, banditry and other threats to national security on multiple fronts, a public legislative inquisition could undermine their morale and operational focus,” the statement added.
Akpabio also urged journalists and members of the public to disregard what he described as inaccurate and sensational reports, while encouraging media organisations to seek clarification from his office before publishing stories concerning his comments.
