The Office of the President of the Senate has dismissed as misleading reports suggesting that Senate President Godswill Akpabio promised to secure senatorial tickets for lawmakers who lost in the All Progressives Congress primaries.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senate President, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, the office said the reports “do not reflect the position of the President of the Senate.”
“For the record, Senator Akpabio has neither made nor authorized to be made such promise,” the statement read.
According to the statement, Akpabio merely sympathised with senators affected by the outcome of the primaries during an interaction with his colleagues and reassured them that the leadership of the APC was addressing issues arising from the exercise.
“What the President of the Senate actually said, in the course of interacting with his colleagues, was to empathize with senators who were affected 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 stressed that Akpabio remained committed to party processes and would not interfere in matters outside the authority of the National Assembly leadership.
“Senator Akpabio remains committed to party discipline, due process, and the internal mechanisms of the APC for resolving disputes. 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 Senate President’s office also addressed reports linking Akpabio to comments regarding calls for a Senate probe into recent security incidents involving the military. According to the statement, while the National Assembly has constitutional oversight responsibilities, Akpabio believes this is not the right time for a public investigation of the Armed Forces.
“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. 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 morale and operational focus.”
The statement added that the Senate President favoured collaboration and private engagements with security agencies over public hearings.
The office urged the media and members of the public to avoid sensational interpretations of the Senate President’s remarks. “Senator Akpabio urges the media and the public to disregard sensational and inaccurate misrepresentation of his remarks and to always seek clarification from his office before publication.”
