Akpabio Dismisses Sen Abbo’s Claim On Influencing Removal From Senate

The office of the President of the Senate has refuted recent allegations made by former Adamawa North senator, Elisha Abbo, that Senate President Godswill Akpabio influenced the judicial decision leading to his removal from the Senate as “spurious and malicious.”

In a statement in Abuja on Thursday, special adviser on media and publicity to the Senate President, Hon Eseme Eyiboh, dismissed Abbo’s claim, maintaining that Abbo was lawfully removed from office by the Court of Appeal after due legal process, which found that his election was invalid.

Eyiboh emphasised that Akpabio, a seasoned lawyer and democrat, would never interfere with judicial processes, calling Abbo’s accusations illogical and irresponsible.

“It is regrettable that despite publicly retracting a similar allegation in 2023, Mr. Abbo has once again embarked on a campaign of misinformation and blame-shifting,” he said.

He also noted that Abbo had previously admitted in a conversation with Akpabio that his accusations were baseless, making his latest outburst all the more puzzling.

Addressing Abbo’s complaints about unpaid salaries, allowances, and official benefits following his removal, Eyiboh clarified that the Senate President does not personally oversee administrative payments.

Instead, all payments must be vetted and approved by the appropriate financial offices in line with due process.

“If Mr. Abbo’s claims for payment did not reach the desk of the Senate President, it is because they failed to meet lawful standards—not because of any personal or political vendetta,” he added.

The statement also reminded the public of Abbo’s previous controversies, including a 2019 viral video in which he was seen assaulting a woman in an Abuja sex toy shop. A court later ordered him to pay N50 million in damages.

Eyiboh suggested that Abbo’s latest accusations were driven by “bitterness and desperation” rather than facts, stating that his conduct and public outbursts further eroded his credibility.

He affirmed that Akpabio remains focused on nation-building, legislative leadership, and strengthening democratic institutions.

“We urge Mr. Abbo to respect the rule of law and focus on rebuilding the confidence of his constituents rather than resorting to baseless accusations and media theatrics,” he said.