Senate President Godswill Akpabio has stated that reports claiming he guaranteed automatic tickets to senators who lost during the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries are inaccurate. The clarification came as Akpabio denies promising APC nominations to affected lawmakers and insists that the party’s leadership is still reviewing issues arising from the primary elections.
The controversy emerged after remarks made by Akpabio during a Senate plenary session following a three-week recess and the Eid-el-Kabir holiday. While addressing lawmakers, he acknowledged concerns among senators who were unsuccessful in securing their party nominations and expressed confidence that efforts were underway to address grievances resulting from the APC primary process.
His comments were later interpreted by some reports as a promise that affected senators would eventually receive party tickets, prompting the Senate President to issue a clarification.
In a statement released on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, the Senate President said reports suggesting he guaranteed tickets to senators were misleading.
According to the statement, Akpabio’s comments were intended to show support for colleagues affected by the outcome of the primaries and to reassure them that the party leadership was examining complaints related to the exercise.
The statement quoted him as saying: “What the President of the Senate actually said was to empathise with senators who were affected negatively by the outcome of their primary elections.”
It further stated: “He assured them that the leadership of the APC is actively working to address all issues arising from the primaries and that the final list of candidates will be released in due course in line with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.”
As Akpabio denies promising APC tickets, he also reaffirmed his commitment to due process and internal party procedures. He stressed that he would not interfere in the affairs of the ruling party or make commitments outside his constitutional responsibilities as Senate President.
The clarification comes after several serving senators across the country failed to secure nomination tickets during the APC primary elections.
Beyond the primary election controversy, Akpabio also addressed calls for a legislative investigation into recent security incidents involving the military. While recognising that oversight of government institutions remains a constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly, he cautioned against public hearings on ongoing military operations.
According to him, Nigeria’s armed forces are currently engaged in multiple security operations, and public investigations could affect morale and operational effectiveness. Instead, he advocated continued engagement with security agencies through consultations and other non-public mechanisms designed to support national security efforts.
The statement highlights ongoing efforts within the APC to manage concerns arising from its primary elections ahead of future political contests. It also underscores the importance of internal party processes in determining candidates for elective positions.
As Akpabio denies promising APC tickets, the development may help clarify the Senate President’s position while attention remains focused on the party’s final candidate list and ongoing reconciliation efforts.
The Senate President has maintained that his remarks were misunderstood and that he merely expressed sympathy for lawmakers affected by the primaries. By clarifying his position, Akpabio denies promising APC tickets and reiterates that decisions regarding candidates remain subject to party procedures and electoral guidelines.
