‘No Vacancy’ — Senators Declare, Back Akpabio For 11th Senate Presidency

The 10th Senate has witnessed expressions of support for Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s return as presiding officer of the 11th National Assembly, with Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno and Senator Cyril Fasuyi declaring that there is “no vacancy” in the Senate presidency.

The lawmakers made their positions known during Thursday’s plenary, where Monguno, representing Borno North, expressed confidence that Akpabio would retain the position, while Fasuyi, representing Ekiti North, openly backed his second-term ambition.

“Insha Allah, by the grace of God, the majority of us are going to make it back to the Senate, and this seat is hereby declared: there is no vacancy,” Monguno said.

He extended the declaration to the office of the Deputy Senate President and other principal officers of the Senate.

Fasuyi also expressed support for Akpabio’s return, insisting that the Senate presidency in the next Assembly was already occupied.

“I hereby support the motion ably moved by Senator Monguno that the seat of the Senate President in the 11th Assembly is not open to any contest. It is already occupied by Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio,” Fasuyi said.

Following the declarations, Akpabio asked senators whether the position reflected the general view of the chamber.

When he called on those in support to say “aye,” the response was audible across the chamber. Asked for opposing voices, no audible response was recorded in the exchange.

“I think that settles it,” Akpabio said.

The exchange signalled support from the two lawmakers for Akpabio’s return as Senate President, although the leadership of the 11th National Assembly will be determined through the formal election process.

Akpabio Warns Against Misrepresentation of Senate Debates

The development came during the same plenary session in which Akpabio cautioned Nigerians against taking legislative debates out of context, particularly discussions concerning whether suicide should remain a criminal offence.

The Senate President urged commentators to distinguish between individual contributions during debates and the final decisions reached by the Senate.

“When we discuss here, we discuss for and against, and in the course of our discussions, whatever we say should not anger anybody outside this chamber, because at the end, what matters is our final decision,” Akpabio said.

The warning followed public reactions to comments made during deliberations on the Suicide Prevention Bill 2026, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing Cross River South.

The bill scaled second reading during Tuesday’s plenary in Abuja, prompting debate over whether people who survive suicide attempts should face prosecution or receive medical and psychological support.

Akpabio said lawmakers must be free to express opposing views during debates without their remarks being misinterpreted or used to damage their reputations.

“We want to make the best laws, so we are bound to oppose each other, and we are also bound to support each other,” he said.

He urged television commentators and other public commentators to avoid politically motivated interpretations of legislative proceedings.

“No matter the discussion, please take the final decision of the Senate into consideration. Don’t go and sit down in panels and try to do politically motivated discussions,” he added.

Akpabio also rejected attempts to associate terrorism with any particular religion, insisting that acts of violence should not be used to stigmatise religious communities.

“Terrorists are not Muslims. Terrorists are not Christians. Terrorists are human beings who believe in taking their lives and the lives of others,” he said.

He maintained that Islam prohibits suicide and killing, arguing that claims about suicide bombers expecting rewards in paradise should not be used to misrepresent the religion.

According to him, discussions on suicide legislation should distinguish between people experiencing mental health challenges and those who deliberately take their own lives or kill others.

“You have to distinguish between suicide committed by people who are mentally disturbed and suicide intentionally committed by people who are physically sound,” Akpabio said.

He added that the Senate’s objective was to make laws that address societal challenges while taking relevant circumstances into account.

The Senate President also defended his record of maintaining relationships across religious lines, citing his support for Muslim and Christian pilgrims during his tenure as governor.

Akpabio said he had sponsored 5,800 Muslims to the Holy Land and more than 10,000 Christians to Rome and Jerusalem.

He also cited his longstanding relationship with Muslim members of his staff, saying he regarded them as brothers rather than defining them by their religious affiliations.

“My ADC for 19 years is a Muslim. I don’t recognise him as a Muslim. I recognise him as a brother,” he said.

Akpabio added that more than 65 per cent of his staff were Muslims, insisting that he had no reason to speak disparagingly of Islam.

“There’s no way I will talk down on Muslim religion,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to focus on the substance of public debates rather than misrepresenting lawmakers’ positions or attempting to damage their reputations.

The plenary session thus featured both expressions of support for Akpabio’s potential return as Senate President in the 11th National Assembly and his appeal for responsible public interpretation of legislative debates.