Senate President Godswill Akpabio has refuted claims that he assured senators who failed to secure victory in the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections of automatic tickets ahead of future contests.
The clarification follows remarks he made during plenary after lawmakers resumed from a three-week recess and the Eid-el-Kabir holiday.
At the session, Akpabio acknowledged concerns among senators affected by the outcome of the party primaries and expressed confidence that efforts were underway to address grievances arising from the exercise.
Addressing lawmakers, the Senate President noted that the Senate leadership was mindful of the disappointment experienced by some members and was engaging relevant stakeholders to ease tensions created by the primary elections.
However, in a statement released on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio dismissed reports suggesting he had guaranteed party tickets to senators who lost during the APC selection process.
According to the statement, Akpabio’s comments were intended solely to show support for affected colleagues and to reassure them that the party leadership was reviewing issues linked to the primaries.
“What the President of the Senate actually said was to empathise with senators who were affected negatively by the outcome of their primary elections,” the statement said.
“He assured them that the leadership of the 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.”
The Senate President further stressed that he remains committed to due process and would not interfere with the internal affairs of the APC or make promises outside the scope of his constitutional responsibilities.
His response comes amid concerns following the failure of several serving senators to obtain their party’s nomination during the recently concluded APC primaries across the country.
Meanwhile, Akpabio also commented on demands for a legislative investigation into recent military-related security incidents.
While acknowledging that oversight of public institutions is one of the National Assembly’s constitutional duties, he argued that conducting a public probe into ongoing military operations may not be in the nation’s best interest at the moment.
He noted that the armed forces are currently involved in several security operations nationwide and warned that open hearings could negatively affect troop morale and operational efficiency.
Instead, Akpabio recommended sustained consultations and behind-the-scenes engagement with security agencies as a more effective way of supporting efforts to improve national security.
He added that close cooperation between the legislature and security institutions remains crucial in tackling the country’s security challenges.