Akpabio's Office Clarifies Position on Senators Who Lost APC Primaries

The Senate President's office has come out to debunk claims that Godswill Akpabio promised automatic tickets to senators who lost out in the recent All Progressives Congress primary elections. In a statement released on Saturday, Akpabio's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, described the reports as misleading and a misrepresentation of the Senate President's comments. According to Eyiboh, Akpabio did not make or authorise any promise to guarantee tickets for the affected senators. Instead, the Senate President merely expressed sympathy for his colleagues who were adversely affected by the primaries and assured them that the APC leadership was working to address issues arising from the exercise. Eyiboh explained that Akpabio informed the senators that the final list of candidates would be released in due course, in line with the party's constitution and electoral guidelines. The statement noted that Akpabio remains committed to party discipline, due process, and the internal dispute-resolution mechanisms of the APC, and would not interfere in the party's autonomous processes. The Senate President also clarified his position on legislative scrutiny of the military, stating that while legislative oversight is a constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly, a public probe of the Armed Forces at this time could undermine the morale of troops engaged in counter-terrorism and anti-banditry operations. Akpabio favours collaboration and closed-door engagements with security agencies, rather than public hearings that could distract military personnel from ongoing operations. The Senate President has urged journalists and members of the public to disregard sensational and inaccurate reports and to seek clarification from his office before publishing stories relating to his comments.