By Mercy Gadia Adi
The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, on Thursday refuted the recent allegations made by Mr. Elisha Abbo against him, called it baseless and unfounded.
According to the statement signed by the Special Adviser, Media/Publicity and official Spokesperson to the President of the Senate, Rt Hon Eseme Eyiboh , Mr Abbo has been making “spurious and malicious accusations” against the Senate President, blaming him for his removal from the Senate.
Read Also:Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan Files N100 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against Senate President Akpabio
The senate president notes that Mr. Abbo had previously retracted similar allegations in 2023, admitting that they were “premature and based on the available information at our disposal.” Despite this, Mr. Abbo has once again embarked on a campaign of misinformation and blame transfer.
He explained that Court of Appeal had ruled that Mr. Abbo’s presence in the Senate was in error, determining that he was not validly elected as the Senator for Adamawa North. The court’s decision was made in accordance with extant laws and the Constitution, and he, Senator Akpabio had no involvement in the judicial process.
“It is therefore both illogical and irresponsible for Mr. Abbo to now turn around and allege that the Senate President influenced a court judgment—a judgment which he himself accepted at the time and for which he expressed contrition for his earlier unfounded claims,” the senate president said.
Mr. Abbo has also claimed that he was unjustly denied official benefits following his ouster, including salaries, allowances, and an official vehicle. However, the statement notes that the Senate President only approves payments that have been duly vetted and forwarded by the appropriate administrative units.
Akpabio describes Mr. Abbo’s actions as “media theatrics and reckless finger-pointing,” and notes that his record of public conduct is questionable. In 2019, Mr. Abbo was caught on video assaulting a female citizen in Abuja, and was ordered to pay N50 million in damages.
“His recent outbursts about unpaid travels and imagined plots further reinforce the conclusion that his actions are driven not by facts or principle, but by bitterness and desperation to remain politically relevant,” Akpabio said.
Senator Akpabio remains focused on nation-building, providing purposeful leadership in the Senate, and strengthening democratic institutions. The statement urges Mr. Abbo to reflect deeply, respect the rule of law, and focus on rebuilding the confidence of his constituents.
“Nigeria’s democracy can only thrive when its actors show maturity, responsibility, and an abiding respect for the truth,” he concluded.