Akpabio denies function in Abbo’s removing from Senate

The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday berated a former lawmaker representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, Elisha Abbo, saying he has no hand in his removing from the Nationwide Meeting.

The clarification was made in an announcement issued in Abuja by Akpabio’s media aide, Eseme Eyiboh.

Abbo was sacked by a Court docket of Appeal sitting in Abuja on October 16, 2023.

The judgment delivered by a three-member panel presided over by Justice C.E. Nwosu-Iheme ordered the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee to difficulty a Certificates of Return to Amos Yohanna of the Peoples Democratic Party because the duly elected lawmaker representing the world on the Senate.

However talking on a stay programme on Come up Tv on Wednesday, Abbo blamed Akpabio for his predicament.

He additionally accused the Senate President of operating the Pink Chamber like an emperor.

This was at the same time as he condemned the suspension of the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Reacting, Akpabio stated he was shocked to listen to Abbo blame him once more for his removing from the Senate barely two years after apologising to him.

He stated, “It’s unhappy and regrettable that, regardless of publicly retracting an analogous allegation in 2023—after admitting that his earlier accusation was untimely and based mostly on the obtainable data at our disposal—Mr. Abbo has as soon as once more launched into a marketing campaign of misinformation and blame switch.

“Following a dialogue with the Senate President final 12 months, Mr. Abbo himself acknowledged that Senator Akpabio had ‘no involvement’ within the judicial course of that led to his removing. It’s puzzling that he would now return to the identical baseless allegations he as soon as renounced.”

Persevering with, Akpabio emphasised that it was the courtroom and never him that decided Abbo’s destiny earlier than he was consequently eliminated.

The previous governor of Akwa Ibom State asserted that he, subsequently, discovered it illogical and irresponsible that Abbo might flip round and allege that he influenced the judgment that he accepted on the time.

“It’s there within the papers (see PidomNigeria Newspaper of October 18, 2023). Mr Abbo has additionally sought to create the impression that he was unjustly denied official advantages following his ouster. He claims entitlement to salaries, allowances, and even an official car, regardless of the courtroom’s declaration that his tenure was null and void ab initio.

“If any of Abbo’s claims for cost didn’t attain the desk of the Senate President, it’s as a result of they failed to fulfill these lawful requirements—not due to any private or political vendetta. It’s unlucky that as an alternative of accepting the implications of his authorized and political failings, Abbo continues to resort to media theatrics and reckless finger-pointing.

“Akpabio stays centered on the noble process of nation-building, offering purposeful management within the Senate, and strengthening democratic establishments—particularly the independence of the judiciary. He is not going to be distracted by the antics of people who search to rewrite historical past to masks private failures.

“We urge Mr Abbo to mirror deeply, respect the rule of regulation, and give attention to rebuilding the arrogance of his constituents if he hopes to return to public life. Nigeria’s democracy can solely thrive when its actors present maturity, accountability, and an abiding respect for the reality,” the assertion added.