The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has denied reports claiming he promised to secure senatorial tickets for lawmakers who lost in the recent primary elections of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, the Senate President described the reports as misleading and a distortion of his remarks.
According to the statement, Akpabio neither made nor authorised any promise guaranteeing tickets for senators affected by the outcome of the party primaries.
The statement explained that during interactions with his colleagues, the Senate President merely expressed sympathy for senators who were negatively affected by the primary election results and assured them that the APC leadership was working to address concerns arising from the exercise.
“What the President of the Senate actually said was to empathise with senators who were affected negatively by the outcome of their primary elections. He assured them that the leadership of the APC 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 said.
Akpabio reiterated his commitment to party discipline, due process and the APC’s internal mechanisms for resolving disputes, stressing that he would not interfere with the party’s autonomous processes or make commitments beyond the powers of the National Assembly leadership.
The Senate President’s office also addressed reports linking him to calls for a Senate probe of the military over recent security incidents across the country.
While acknowledging that legislative oversight is a constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly, Akpabio maintained that the current security situation does not warrant a public investigation of the Armed Forces.
According to the statement, exposing the military to a public legislative inquiry at a time when troops are engaged in multiple operations against terrorism, banditry and other security threats could undermine their morale and operational effectiveness.
“The Senate President believes strongly that support, collaboration and closed-door engagements with security agencies are more productive at this critical time,” the statement noted.
It added that legislative oversight would continue to be exercised responsibly without creating distractions that could embolden criminal elements or divert attention from ongoing efforts to secure the country.
Akpabio therefore urged the media and members of the public to disregard what he described as sensational and inaccurate reports, while encouraging journalists to seek clarification from his office before publishing stories attributed to him.
