Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has denied reports alleging that he promised automatic senatorial tickets to lawmakers who lost out in the recent primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that his remarks were misinterpreted.
Akpabio, who spoke through a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, said he neither made nor authorised any such promise, describing the reports as misleading.
The Senate President had, during plenary on Tuesday, while welcoming lawmakers back from a three-week recess and the Eid-el-Kabir break, expressed concern over the outcome of the party primaries which saw several serving senators lose their tickets.
He had noted that efforts were underway within the party leadership to reduce the political fallout from the exercise, a comment that sparked speculation about possible concessions for affected lawmakers.
However, Eyiboh clarified that Akpabio merely empathised with his colleagues and assured them that the party leadership was working to address grievances arising from the primaries.
The statement read in part, “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.”
No fewer than 14 serving senators were reportedly defeated in the APC primaries conducted across various states, heightening tensions within the ruling party ahead of the next general election cycle.
Akpabio reaffirmed his commitment to party discipline and due process, stressing that he would not interfere in the internal affairs of the APC or make commitments beyond his constitutional powers as Senate President.
Meanwhile, Akpabio also weighed in on calls by some lawmakers for a legislative probe into recent security incidents involving the military, cautioning against such a move at this time.
While acknowledging that oversight of security agencies remains a constitutional duty of the National Assembly, the Senate President warned that a public investigation could be counterproductive.
“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,” he said.
He advocated instead for discreet engagements between lawmakers and security agencies, noting that closed-door consultations would yield better outcomes without jeopardising ongoing military operations.
Akpabio’s position comes amid growing concerns over insecurity in parts of the country and increasing pressure on the National Assembly to exercise stricter oversight of the armed forces.
The development underscores the delicate balance between accountability and national security as Nigeria continues to grapple with insurgency, banditry and other violent threats.
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