Senate President Godswill Akpabio Reportedly Collapses Again, Now Receiving Treatment in London

Lagos, Nigeria –Senate President Godswill Akpabio has reportedly suffered another health scare, collapsing during a private engagement and being airlifted to a hospital in London for urgent medical attention, sources close to the incident confirmed to this newspaper on Monday.

This marks the second reported collapse for the Akwa Ibom-born politician this year, raising fresh concerns about his well-being amid a demanding legislative schedule and ongoing political tensions in the National Assembly. Eyewitnesses and aides, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the episode occurring over the weekend in Abuja, shortly after Akpabio attended a high-level meeting. He was immediately stabilized by his medical team before being flown out of the country via a private jet.

Official statements from the Senate President’s office remain sparse as of press time. A spokesperson, Jackson Udom, issued a brief update via WhatsApp, stating: “The Distinguished Senate President is currently undergoing routine medical checks in London and is in stable condition. We urge the public to disregard unverified rumors and pray for his swift recovery.” No further details on the cause of the collapse—whether linked to fatigue, an underlying condition, or other factors—were disclosed.

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Akpabio’s health has been a topic of speculation since a similar incident in July 2025, when he briefly lost consciousness during a Senate plenary session in Abuja. That event, attributed by aides to dehydration and travel fatigue, sparked widespread social media buzz and opposition calls for greater transparency on the leadership’s fitness. Political analysts note that such episodes come at a sensitive time, with the 10th Senate grappling with budget delays, impeachment rumors targeting the executive, and internal party rifts within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Online searches and reports from credible sources like Premium Times, Vanguard, and Channels TV corroborate the development. A Vanguard exclusive on December 14 detailed Akpabio’s evacuation from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, while social media footage circulating on X (formerly Twitter) shows airport activity consistent with a medical flight. British media outlets, including The Guardian UK, have yet to confirm his admission to a specific facility, though Harley Street clinics—popular among Nigerian elites—are rumored destinations. No official Nigerian government confirmation has been issued by the State House or Senate Clerk.

Nigerians have flooded social platforms with messages of support, alongside memes and conspiracy theories ranging from political sabotage to “juju” influences—a nod to Akpabio’s South-South political rivalries. Prominent figures like former Senate President David Mark and APC chieftain Bola Tinubu have reportedly reached out, per insider sources.

As the Senate reconvenes this week to debate the 2026 Appropriation Bill, questions linger about contingency plans. Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau has assumed temporary oversight, assuring senators of business as usual. Akpabio, 63, a former Niger Delta Development Commission chairman and Akwa Ibom governor, has been a pivotal figure in President Bola Tinubu’s legislative agenda since June 2023.

Validviewnetwork.com will provide updates as more information emerges. Prayers from across Nigeria pour in for the Senate President’s recovery.