Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed reports suggesting that he pledged to secure senatorial tickets for lawmakers who lost in the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections.
In a statement issued by his media office, Akpabio described the reports as misleading, insisting that he merely sympathised with senators affected by the outcome of the primaries and assured them that the party leadership was working to address complaints arising from the exercise.
The statement, signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, clarified that the Senate President neither made nor authorised any promise to guarantee tickets for unsuccessful aspirants.
“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.
“We categorically state that this report does not reflect the position of the President of the Senate. Senator Akpabio neither made nor authorised such a promise,” the statement said.
According to Eyiboh, Akpabio’s remarks during an interaction with fellow senators were intended to reassure those affected by the primary election outcomes that the APC leadership was actively addressing concerns and would release its final list of candidates in line with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.
The Senate President reaffirmed his commitment to party discipline, due process and the APC’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms, stressing that he would not interfere in matters beyond the authority of the National Assembly leadership.
On security-related issues, Akpabio also clarified his position regarding calls for a legislative probe of the military over recent security challenges in parts of the country.
While acknowledging that legislative oversight remains a constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly, he maintained that a public investigation of the Armed Forces at this time could negatively affect troop morale and ongoing military operations.
“With troops currently battling terrorism, banditry and other security threats across the country, subjecting the military to a public legislative inquisition could undermine their morale and operational focus,” the statement noted.
Akpabio argued that cooperation, support and private engagements with security agencies would be more effective in addressing the nation’s security concerns at this critical period.
He added that the National Assembly would continue to exercise its oversight functions responsibly without creating distractions capable of emboldening criminal elements or weakening ongoing security efforts.
The Senate President further urged journalists and members of the public to disregard inaccurate interpretations of his remarks and seek clarification from his office before publishing reports attributed to him.
