Senators Support Akpabio's Return as Senate President

Senators on Thursday showed their backing for Godswill Akpabio to continue as the president of the 11th Senate, which will start in June 2027 after the general elections.

The lawmakers also expressed their support for Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and other key officers. They promised to help these leaders keep their positions in the next assembly.

This announcement came during plenary after Mr Akpabio discussed the debate over the Senate’s passage of a bill aimed at decriminalizing attempted suicide. The bill was brought up for a second reading on Tuesday.

Mr Akpabio explained that since the bill passed, some critics have accused him of being biased religiously. They claimed he was wrong for insisting that anyone who attempts suicide should face jail time.

He believes the criticism is politically driven. He thinks it aims to tarnish his image as the fight for the Senate presidency of the 11th National Assembly gets closer.

“I know the position of president is gone. The position of vice president is gone. The only one that is left now is the position of senate president. So everybody will want to contest that, and then we want to mobilise. That is what is left and everybody is interested,” he said.

Mr Akpabio urged political commentators to think about the issues and the people involved before speaking out. He warned against comments that could harm reputations.

“So people who go out there to talk should study the personalities involved. This is a politically charged period. People should go and face the truth and discuss issues, not to try to damage people’s reputations,” he added.

After Mr Akpabio’s speech, the Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno, said he believes most serving senators will win re-election in 2027. He also supports Mr Akpabio’s return as Senate president.

Mr Monguno, who is from Borno North Senatorial District, stated that the Senate presidency will not be open for competition in the 11th National Assembly. He insisted that Mr Akpabio will keep the position.

He backed the deputy senate president and other principal officers, saying they should also stay in their roles in the next assembly.

“By the grace of God, majority of us are going to make it back to the Senate, and this seat is hereby declared: there is no vacancy. No vacancy at all, including the seat of DSP, and all other principal officers. I hereby declare there is no vacancy, including principal officers,” he said.

Cyril Fasuyi (APC, Ekiti North) supported this statement, saying Mr Akpabio is already set to return as Senate president for another term.

“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. I so support,” Mr Fasuyi said.

Mr Akpabio then called for a voice vote on the declaration, and most senators present backed it.

After the vote, Mr Akpabio asked critics to stop making politically charged interpretations of the Senate’s decisions on national matters. He insisted he does not have a bias against any religion.

He explained that his good relations with Muslims and his support for prayers for the country contradict the claims against him.

“I think that settles it. So all those who want to do politically motivated interpretations should stop. I love the Muslim religion. I send people to Mecca to pray for me and to pray for this country. And I do that even up to yesterday. And I have been doing that for the last 25 years,” he added.

Mr Akpabio mentioned that some commentators twist the Senate’s discussions because of the upcoming political season.

“So I don’t know why people go and sit down on television and they try to misinterpret what we say here, because politics is coming,” he said.

The 11th National Assembly is set to kick off in June 2027, about six months after the general elections in January and February.

The inauguration will happen after a proclamation by the president.

During the inauguration, newly elected senators will take their oaths of office and elect the senate president and deputy senate president as part of their first tasks.

The senate president is Nigeria’s third-highest political office, after the president and vice president. The deputy senate president is also among the country’s top legislative leaders.

Mr Akpabio, who now holds the Senate presidency, was elected by his colleagues in June 2023. He aims to keep the position in the 11th National Assembly after the 2027 elections.