Senate President Godswill Akpabio has pushed back against claims made by former Adamawa North Senator, Ishaku Elisha Abbo, who accused him of orchestrating the removal of five lawmakers from the 10th Senate.
Abbo, who lost his seat following an Appeal Court ruling, made the allegations during an interview on Channels Television.
He accused Akpabio of wielding unchecked influence over the Senate and sidelining those who dared to challenge him.
In response, Akpabio, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, dismissed the accusations as baseless.
He emphasized that his focus remains on governance and not on political distractions.
A statement titled “Re: Baseless allegations by Mr. Elisha Abbo against the President of the Senate” was released to address the issue. It read in part:
“The attention of the Office of the President of the Senate has been drawn to another round of spurious and malicious accusations by Mr. Elisha Abbo, who unlawfully represented Adamawa North Senatorial District save a judicial intervention.”
Eyiboh pointed out that Abbo had previously admitted his 2023 allegations against Akpabio were misguided. Despite this, the former senator was once again making similar accusations.
“He has again sought to blame the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, for the travail of his judicial sanction that occasioned his ouster from the Senate.”
The statement reminded the public that Abbo had privately acknowledged last year that Akpabio had no involvement in the legal process that led to his removal.
“It is sad and regrettable that despite publicly retracting a similar allegation in 2023 after admitting that his earlier accusation was ‘premature and based on the available information at our disposal’ Mr. Abbo has once again embarked on a campaign of misinformation and blame transfer.”
Eyiboh further noted that the Appeal Court’s decision to remove Abbo was based on due legal process.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Court of Appeal, after a thorough legal process, ruled unequivocally that Mr. Abbo’s presence in the Red Chamber was in error.”
The statement described Abbo’s renewed claims as “illogical and irresponsible,” highlighting that the judiciary acted independently and in accordance with the law.
Beyond the allegations, the statement also addressed Abbo’s complaints about unpaid benefits. It explained that the Senate President does not personally process such payments and only approves legally verified requests.
READ ALSO: Akpabio Runs Senate Like Personal Empire — Ex-Adamawa Senator, Abbo
“If any of Mr. Abbo’s claims for payment did not reach the desk of the Senate President, it is because they failed to meet these lawful standards – not because of any personal or political vendetta.”
The response didn’t hold back in referencing Abbo’s past controversies, including a 2019 incident where he was caught on video assaulting a female citizen.
“Even more telling is his record of public conduct. Nigerians will recall that in 2019, he was caught on video assaulting a female citizen in Abuja – an incident for which he was ordered by a competent court to pay N50 million in damages.”
Eyiboh argued that Abbo’s current outbursts were driven by political desperation rather than facts.
“These claims are not only baseless, but they reek of grievance and a refusal to accept personal responsibility for his removal and loss of public trust.”
He reaffirmed that Akpabio remains committed to national leadership and will not be swayed by political distractions.
“Senator Godswill Akpabio remains focused on the noble task of nation-building, providing purposeful leadership in the Senate, and strengthening democratic institutions – especially the independence of the judiciary.”
The statement closed with a call for maturity and respect for the rule of law.
“We urge Mr. Abbo to reflect deeply, respect the rule of law, and focus on rebuilding the confidence of his constituents if he hopes to return to public life.”
With the allegations dismissed, the focus remains on governance, while Abbo faces the challenge of restoring his political reputation.