…We are solidly behind Akpabio — Northern senators
Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu has dispelled impeachment rumours of Senate president, Godswill Akpabio, describing it as “unacceptable and unspeakable”.
Adaramodu stated this after the senate plenary on Wednesday.
Earlier on Wednesday, rumours on some social media platforms stated that the Senate president was set to be impeached and indicate that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) had taken over the National Assembly premises to prevent a plan to impeach the officers from taking place.
Senator Akpabio has since dispelled the rumours as ” fake news”
He said, “I don’t even know how to describe it.
“There is nothing near that and there will not be. We have agreed that this is an uncommon Senate and the Senate President is carrying his legislative duties
“There is no reason to even speculate that there will be a change of leadership.
“The idea has neither been generated or conceived anywhere.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF), Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, dismissed any attempts to link northern lawmakers with the issue.
Yar’Adua said members of the group were solidly behind the leadership of Akpabio.
“We in the forum are solidly behind the leadership of Akpabio.
“We are here to assure Nigerians that they should ignore the rumor and concentrate on issues that affect our nation rather than dueling on rumours”, he told Senate Correspondents.
Meanwhile, the Presidency also touched on the matter, dismissing as “baseless”, any claim of a plot to sack the leadership of the Senate.
In a reaction on Wednesday evening, the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Sen. Basheer Lado, spoke of the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to encourage a harmonious working relationship between the legislature and the executive.
A statement Lado issued, reads, “The attention of this office has been drawn to online reports that security agents have been deployed to prevent senators from carrying out their legislative duties, specifically in relation to an alleged impeachment of the Senate President. I wish to categorically state that these reports are baseless and should be disregarded as there is no discord within the rank and file of the senators. The legislative body remains united in its commitment to the advancement of Nigeria’s democracy.
“The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in line with his dedication to a harmonious working relationship among the senators, recognizes the critical role of the senate in driving legislative progress. His Excellency remains committed to ensuring that this collaboration is based on mutual respect, dialogue, and shared goals for peace, progress and prosperity of all Nigerians.
“The senate continues to function freely and without interference, and any security presence within the National Assembly Complex is for the routine safety and protection of legislators and staff. I therefore urge the public to disregard such unfounded publications which could undermine the integrity of the legislature.”