Akpabio never promised APC tickets to senators who lost primaries — Aide

The Office of the President of the Senate has dismissed reports claiming that Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, promised to secure senatorial tickets for lawmakers who lost in the recent All Progressives Congress primary elections.

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‎In a statement issued on Saturday, Akpabio’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, described the reports as misleading and a misrepresentation of Akpabio’s remarks.

‎According to him, Akpabio neither made nor authorised any promise to guarantee tickets for senators affected by the outcome of the party primaries.

‎The statement explained that the Senate President merely sympathised with colleagues who were adversely affected by the exercise and assured them that the APC leadership was working to address issues arising from the primaries.

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‎It added that Akpabio had informed the senators that the final list of candidates would be released in due course in accordance with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.

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

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‎“He assured them that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress 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,” Eyiboh said.

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‎The aide stressed that Akpabio remained committed to party discipline, due process and the internal dispute-resolution mechanisms of the APC, noting that he would not interfere in the party’s autonomous processes or make commitments outside the powers of the National Assembly leadership.

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‎He also clarified reports suggesting that he opposed legislative scrutiny of the military over recent security incidents.

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‎While acknowledging that legislative oversight remains a constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly, the statement said Akpabio believes that a public probe of the Armed Forces at this time could undermine the morale of troops engaged in counter-terrorism and anti-banditry operations across the country.

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‎Eyiboh noted that the Senate President favours collaboration and closed-door engagements with security agencies rather than public hearings that could distract military personnel from ongoing operations.

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‎He said, “Senator Akpabio’s position is that this is not the opportune moment for a public probe of the Armed Forces. 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.”

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‎Akpabio urged journalists and members of the public to disregard what he described as sensational and inaccurate reports and to seek clarification from his office before publishing stories relating to his comments.

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