In what appears to be a bold response to growing public criticism, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has declared that he will not resign over what he described as “false allegations.”
Akpabio’s reaction came on Thursday during the Senate plenary in Abuja, following remarks made by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.
Bamidele had commended the lawmakers for staying focused despite rising criticism from the public.
“Mr. President, those who felt that you should have stepped down can now see that this Senate remains focused,” Bamidele said, referencing the Senate’s legislative progress, including the passage of major tax reform bills.
However, before Bamidele could complete his remarks, Akpabio interrupted with a strong statement.
“I will not step down over false allegations,” he said. He went on to add, “Who told you I was going to step down? I am not one of those people who would step down over false allegations, and when it is eventually proven that the allegations were false, they’ll say, ‘Oh, we were unfair to Akpabio.’ No! I am not that bad. If you have that in mind, cancel it!”
The ruling upheld the 2021 conviction of Professor Peter Ogban, who was found guilty of manipulating the 2019 senatorial election results in favour of Akpabio.
Even though Akpabio was not personally convicted, the ruling has continued to stir debates about his credibility.
Public discourse has been reignited online, with some civil society groups and political observers questioning his moral right to continue as Senate President.
Despite this, Akpabio remains firm in his stance, choosing to focus on his legislative role rather than the noise around him.
“Let the dreamers dream,” he remarked, suggesting that critics are wasting their energy on unsubstantiated claims.
Moreover, he stressed that such criticisms are being fueled by individuals with little understanding of governance, and he dismissed them as distractions meant to derail the progress of the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, many observers have said the Senate’s ability to push forward reforms is a signal of stability, regardless of external calls for resignation.
