Senate President Godswill Akpabio has denied reports that he promised to secure senatorial tickets for APC lawmakers who lost their party primaries, saying he only empathized with colleagues affected by the outcome.
In a press release issued Saturday, June 6, 2026, and signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, the office said the reports “do not reflect the position of the President of the Senate.”
“For the record, Senator Akpabio has neither made nor authorized to be made such promise,” the statement read.
Eyiboh explained that during interactions with colleagues, Akpabio expressed sympathy for senators negatively impacted by the primaries. He assured them that the APC leadership was “actively working to address all issues arising from the primaries” and that the final list of candidates would be released “in due course in line with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.”
The Senate President, according to the statement, remains committed to party discipline and due process. “He will not interfere with the autonomous processes of the party or make commitments that are outside the purview of the National Assembly leadership,” Eyiboh said.
—On security oversight—
The office also addressed reports quoting a senator on the need for the Senate to publicly probe the military over recent security incidents.
While acknowledging that legislative oversight is constitutional, Akpabio argued that “this is not the opportune moment for a public probe of the Armed Forces.”
He noted that with troops engaged on multiple fronts against terrorism and banditry, a public legislative inquisition could “undermine their morale and operational focus.”
The Senate President believes “support, collaboration and closed-door engagements with security agencies are more productive at this critical time,” the release stated. Oversight, it added, will be exercised responsibly “without creating distractions that embolden adversaries or divert attention from the urgent task of securing Nigeria and its people.”
Akpabio urged the media and public to “disregard sensational and inaccurate misrepresentation of his remarks and to always seek clarification from his office before publication.”
■ THE PRESS RELEASE IS PUBLISHED IN EXTENSO HERE UNDER
PRESS RELEASE
CLARIFICATION ON MISLEADING REPORTS ON PARTY PRIMARIES CONCERNING SENATORS
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 must categorically assert that this report does not reflect the position of the President of the Senate. For the record, Senator Akpabio has neither made nor authorized to be made such promise.
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. 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.
Senator Akpabio remains committed to party discipline, due process, and the internal mechanisms of the APC for resolving disputes. He will not interfere with the autonomous processes of the party or make commitments that are outside the purview of the National Assembly leadership.
ON COMMENTS REGARDING SECURITY AND LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT
The office also notes another report quoting a distinguished Senator on the need for the Senate to probe the military over recent security incidents.
While legislative oversight is a constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly, 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.
The Senate President believes strongly that support, collaboration and closed-door engagements with security agencies are more productive at this critical time. Oversight will be exercised responsibly, without creating distractions that embolden adversaries or divert attention from the urgent task of securing Nigeria and its people.
Senator Akpabio urges the media and the public to disregard sensational and inaccurate misrepresentation of his remarks and to always seek clarification from his office before publication.
Signed:
Hon. Eseme Eyiboh
Special Adviser, Media and Publicity
Office of the President
of the Senate
Federal Republic of Nigeria
June 06, 2026
