Akpabio: I Didn’t Promise Those Who Lost Primaries Return Tickets

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has denied reports suggesting he promised to secure senatorial tickets for lawmakers who lost out in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries, insisting that his remarks were misconstrued and taken beyond their intended meaning.

The clarification comes days after comments he made on the Senate floor triggered speculation that efforts were underway to guarantee political lifelines for serving senators affected by the outcome of the party’s nomination contests ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking when senators resumed from a three-week recess and the Eid-el-Kabir break, Akpabio had acknowledged concerns arising from the primaries and expressed optimism that many of the issues would eventually be resolved.

However, in a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, the Senate President said he neither promised nor authorised anyone to promise automatic tickets or favourable outcomes for senators who failed to secure nominations.

According to him, his comments were intended solely to show solidarity with colleagues adversely affected by the exercise and to reassure them that the party leadership was addressing complaints emanating from the primaries.

ADVERTISEMENT

“What the President of the Senate actually said, in the course of interacting with his colleagues, was to empathize with senators who were affected negatively by the outcome of their primary elections,” the statement said.

The statement added that Akpabio merely conveyed assurances that the APC leadership was examining issues arising from the contests and that the final list of candidates would be released in accordance with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.

“He assured them that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, 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,” it stated.

The Senate President stressed that he remained committed to party discipline and due process.

He maintained that he would not interfere in the internal mechanisms of the ruling party or make commitments beyond the authority of the National Assembly leadership.

At least, 14 serving senators reportedly lost their bids to return to the upper chamber.

Akpabio also used the statement to address growing calls for a legislative investigation into recent security-related incidents involving the military.

While affirming the constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly to exercise oversight over security institutions, he argued that the prevailing security environment requires caution.

According to him, opening the armed forces to a public legislative probe at a time troops are battling terrorism, banditry and other security threats across multiple fronts could have unintended consequences on morale and operational effectiveness.

“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.

Akpabio instead advocated sustained collaboration between lawmakers and security agencies through consultations and closed-door engagements, saying such an approach would better serve national security interests under the current circumstances.