By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has asked Senator Elisha Abbo, who represented Adamawa North Senatorial District before he was sacked by the Appeal Court from the 10th Senate, to stop his game blame and accept his fate.
Abbo appeared on a live television programme aired by the Arise News Channel on Wednesday and accused Akpabio of instigating his removal from the Senate because he did not support him to be Senate President.
He also alleged that the Senate President was vindictive because he did not allow him to leave with his official Sports Utility Vehicle when the other four lawmakers who were sacked by the Court from the 10th Senate left with their official jeeps.
However, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyibo denied Abbo’s allegations.
The Senate President wondered why Abbo, who had earlier levelled similar allegations against him but later apologised, would turn round again with the same accusations.
Akpabio said he had nothing to do with Abbo’s removal from the Red Chamber neither did he know anything about his official vehicle.
Part of the statement read, “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.
“He has again sought to blame the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for the travail of his judicial sanction that occasioned his ouster from the Senate.
“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.
“Following a discussion with the Senate President last year, Mr. Abbo himself acknowledged that Senator Akpabio had “no involvement” in the judicial process that led to his removal. It is puzzling that he would now return to the same baseless allegations he once renounced.
“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 Court determined that he was not validly elected as the Senator for Adamawa North, and consequently, he was removed. The Court acted by the extant laws and the Constitution within its sacred duty to uphold the rule of law.
“Senator Akpabio, a seasoned lawyer and democrat holds the independence of the judiciary in the highest regard and would never interfere in its processes.
“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 accepted at the time and for which he expressed contrition for his earlier unfounded claims. (see Punch newspaper of October 18, 2023)
“Mr Abbo has also sought to create the impression that he was unjustly denied official benefits following his ouster. He claims entitlement to salaries, allowances, and even an official vehicle, despite the Court’s declaration that his tenure was null and void ab initio.
“In financial and administrative processing matters, it must be stated that the Senate President only approves payments duly vetted and forwarded by the appropriate administrative units, in line with extant laws, Senate procedures, and standard due diligence practices.”
The statement added that 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.
It stated that the Senate President would “not be distracted by the antics of individuals who seek to rewrite history to mask personal failures.”
It added, “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.
“Nigeria’s democracy can only thrive when its actors show maturity, responsibility, and an abiding respect for the truth,” it concluded.
