Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed reports suggesting that he promised to secure automatic senatorial tickets for lawmakers who failed to emerge victorious in their party primaries, describing such claims as false, misleading, and a distortion of his remarks.
Akpabio made the clarification through a statement issued by his media office, following widespread reports alleging that he had assured affected senators of guaranteed return tickets despite losing out during the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections.
According to the statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, the Senate President merely expressed sympathy to senators who were adversely affected by the outcomes of the primaries and informed them that the leadership of the APC was already working to resolve complaints arising from the exercise.
The statement stressed that Akpabio never made any promise to override party processes or guarantee electoral tickets for any aspirant, noting that such decisions remain the exclusive responsibility of the party leadership in accordance with established constitutional and electoral procedures.
“The attention of the Office of the President of the Senate has been drawn to misleading reports circulating in sections of the media suggesting that the President of the Senate has promised to secure senatorial tickets for senators who lost their party primaries,” the statement said.
The media office noted that the reports had created a false impression of the Senate President’s position and required immediate clarification to prevent further misinformation.
“We must categorically state that this report does not reflect the position of the President of the Senate. For the record, Senator Godswill Akpabio has neither made nor authorised anyone to make such a promise on his behalf,” the statement added.
Explaining the circumstances that may have led to the misunderstanding, Eyiboh said Akpabio had interacted with some of his colleagues who were dissatisfied with the outcomes of the APC primaries and simply empathised with them over their situation.
According to him, the Senate President acknowledged the concerns of the affected lawmakers and assured them that the APC leadership was actively engaging stakeholders to address grievances and ensure that all disputes arising from the primary elections were handled through the party’s internal mechanisms.
“What the President of the Senate actually said, in the course of interacting with his colleagues, was to empathise with senators who were affected negatively by the outcome of their primary elections,” the statement explained.
“He assured them that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress is actively working to address all issues arising from the primaries and that the final list of candidates will be released in due course in line with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.”
The statement further emphasized that Akpabio remains committed to party discipline and democratic principles and would not interfere in matters that fall within the jurisdiction of the APC leadership.
According to his aide, the Senate President has consistently supported due process and respects the internal structures established by the party for handling electoral disputes and candidate nominations.
“Senator Akpabio remains committed to party discipline, due process, and the internal mechanisms of the APC for resolving disputes,” the statement noted.
“He will not interfere with the autonomous processes of the party or make commitments that are outside the purview of the National Assembly leadership.”
The clarification comes amid heightened political activities across the country following the conclusion of party primaries ahead of upcoming elections. Several aspirants who were unsuccessful in securing party tickets have lodged complaints and appeals, prompting intervention efforts by party leaders at various levels.
Beyond the issue of party primaries, the Senate President’s office also addressed reports concerning comments attributed to him regarding calls for legislative investigations into recent security challenges facing the country.
According to the statement, some media reports had quoted lawmakers advocating for a Senate probe of the military over recent security incidents, creating the impression that Akpabio supported such a move.
However, the Senate President’s office clarified that while parliamentary oversight remains one of the constitutional responsibilities of the National Assembly, he believes that the current security situation requires a more measured approach.
Akpabio reportedly maintains that this is not the most appropriate time for a public legislative investigation of the Armed Forces, considering the numerous security operations currently being conducted across different parts of the country.
The statement noted that Nigerian troops are actively engaged in combating terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, and other threats to national security, and that subjecting military authorities to a public inquiry at this critical period could have unintended consequences.
“While legislative oversight is a constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly, Senator Akpabio’s position is that this is not the opportune moment for a public probe of the Armed Forces,” the statement said.
“At a time when our troops are engaged on multiple fronts against terrorism, banditry, and other threats to national security, subjecting the military to a public legislative inquisition could undermine their morale and operational focus.”
Instead, Akpabio believes that cooperation between the legislature and security agencies should be strengthened through constructive engagement rather than adversarial public hearings.
The statement explained that closed-door consultations and strategic collaboration would better serve the national interest while allowing security agencies to remain focused on ongoing operations aimed at restoring peace and stability across the country.
“He believes strongly that support, collaboration, and closed-door engagements with security agencies are more productive at this critical time,” the statement added.
“Oversight will be exercised responsibly, without creating distractions that embolden adversaries or divert attention from the urgent task of securing Nigeria and its people.”
The Senate President’s office concluded by urging journalists and media organisations to verify information before publication and avoid sensational interpretations of comments made in informal discussions.
Akpabio also appealed to members of the public to disregard inaccurate reports attributed to him and to rely on official communications from his office for clarification on matters concerning his position.
The statement reaffirmed his commitment to democratic governance, party unity, national security, and responsible leadership, stressing that he remains focused on supporting initiatives that promote political stability and strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
