- The Office of the President of the Senate has formally debunked widespread reports claiming that Senate President Godswill Akpabio promised automatic All Progressives Congress (APC) tickets to lawmakers who lost their primary elections.
- Official clarifications note that Akpabio merely offered words of empathy to his colleagues regarding the internal party losses, emphasizing that the candidate lists remain subject to the party’s constitution and autonomous processes.
- The Senate leadership also clarified its stance against a public legislative inquiry into the Armed Forces over recent security lapses, stating that an open probe could actively damage troop morale during active counter-terrorism operations.
The leadership of the Nigerian Senate has strongly dismissed ongoing media speculations alleging that Senate President Godswill Akpabio guaranteed automatic legislative return tickets to lawmakers who fell short in the recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections.
Eko Hot Blog reports that in an official clarifying brief issued on Saturday, June 6, 2026, Akpabio’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, characterized the media reports as highly misleading and a direct misrepresentation of the Senate President’s actual statements.
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Eyiboh asserted that Akpabio never made nor authorized any political commitments that would bypass standard democratic procedures to secure nominations for senators affected by the primary losses.
According to the official statement, the Senate President’s interactions with his colleagues were purely driven by collegial empathy following the unfavorable outcomes of their internal party exercises.
Rather than offering unilateral guarantees, Akpabio simply assured the affected lawmakers that the national leadership of the APC is actively engaged in reviewing and resolving the various grievances and disputes arising from the primaries.
He reminded the politicians that the definitive list of standard-bearers will be officially compiled and released in due course, strictly adhering to the dictates of the party’s constitution and standard electoral guidelines.
The media aide emphasized that Akpabio remains entirely dedicated to organizational discipline, constitutional due process, and the autonomous internal conflict-resolution organs of the ruling party, noting that he would never meddle in independent party structures or make promises outside the legal purview of the National Assembly’s leadership.
Concurrently, the press release addressed separate, controversial narratives surrounding Akpabio’s purported opposition to holding the nation’s military accountable over recent national security incidents.
While affirming that robust legislative oversight remains a fundamental, unyielding constitutional duty of the National Assembly, Eyiboh explained that the Senate President firmly believes a highly publicized probe of the Armed Forces at this specific juncture is ill-advised.
With military troops currently deployed on multiple dangerous fronts to combat escalating waves of terrorism and banditry across the federation, Akpabio maintains that subjecting the defense high command to an open legislative inquisition could severely demoralize field personnel and distract them from critical combat focuses.
Consequently, the Senate leadership strongly favors collaborative, closed-door strategy briefings with security agencies over sensationalized public hearings, urging media organizations and the public to disregard unverified reporting and verify facts directly with his press office.
