Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed allegations by former Senator Elisha Abbo, who accused him of orchestrating his removal from the National Assembly.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by his media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio expressed shock that Abbo had once again blamed him for his predicament despite previously retracting similar accusations.
Abbo, who represented Adamawa North Senatorial District, was sacked by the Court of Appeal in Abuja on October 16, 2023. A three-member panel led by Justice C.E. Nwosu-Iheme ruled in favor of Amos Yohanna of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him a Certificate of Return.
However, speaking on a live program on Arise Television on Wednesday, Abbo accused Akpabio of influencing his removal and running the Senate “like an emperor.” He also condemned the suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In response, Akpabio dismissed the claims as “regrettable and baseless,” pointing out that Abbo had publicly apologized in 2023 for making the same allegations.
“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,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President emphasized that it was the court—not him—that determined Abbo’s fate, making it “illogical and irresponsible” for the former lawmaker to claim otherwise.
Akpabio also refuted Abbo’s claims that he was unfairly denied salaries, allowances, and an official vehicle following his removal. He explained that any such requests would have been invalidated by the court’s ruling, which declared Abbo’s tenure null and void.
“It is unfortunate that instead of accepting the consequences of his legal and political failings, Abbo continues to resort to media theatrics and reckless finger-pointing,” Akpabio added.
The former Akwa Ibom governor reiterated his commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions and urged Abbo to respect 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,” the statement concluded.
