I Never Promised Tickets to APC Senators that Lost Primary Election- Akpabio

The president of the Nigeria’s Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has clarified that he did not promise return ticket to his colleagues that lost their tickets in the primary election in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

On Tuesday June 2, 2026 during plenary, Senator Akpabio had unwittingly raised the hopes of his colleagues who lost their tickets when he announced on the Senate floor that “something” would be done about it to ensure that the Senate records “few” disappointments.

He had said: “I felicitate, particularly those who have secured their mandates to represent their parties in the next election. I know that there will always be victories and disappointments, yet above every individual triumph stands a greater triumph, the triumph of democracy itself.

“And in this Senate, we have promised that we will have very few disappointments, and I do know that the Senate leader and the leadership of the Senate are working very hard towards that, so in advance, I will say congratulations to all of us across party lines,”

 

However, in a statement issued on Saturday by his spokesman, Mr. Eseme Eyibo, Akpabio stated clearly that he  never promised to secure senatorial return tickets for his colleagues that lost their tickets.

 

tickets at the All Progressives Congress APC primary elections.

Part of the statement reads, “The attention of the Office of the President of the Senate has been drawn to misleading reports circulating in sections of the media suggesting that the President of the Senate has promised to secure senatorial tickets for senators who lost their party primaries.

 

“We must categorically assert that this report does not reflect the position of the President of the Senate. For the record, Senator Akpabio has neither made nor authorized to be made such a promise.

“What the President of the Senate actually said, in the course of interacting with his colleagues, was to empathize with senators who were affected negatively by the outcome of their primary elections.

 

“He assured them that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, is actively working to address all issues arising from the primaries and that the final list of candidates will be released in due course in line with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.

 

“Senator Akpabio remains committed to party discipline, due process, and the internal mechanisms of the APC for resolving disputes.

“He will not interfere with the autonomous processes of the party or make commitments that are outside the purview of the National Assembly leadership.

“The office also notes another report quoting a distinguished Senator on the need for the Senate to probe the military over recent security incidents.

 

“While legislative oversight is a constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly, Senator Akpabio’s position is that this is not the opportune moment for a public probe of the Armed Forces.

“At a time when our troops are engaged on multiple fronts against terrorism, banditry and other threats to National Security, subjecting the military to a public legislative inquisition could undermine their morale and operational focus.

 

“The Senate President believes strongly that support, collaboration and closed-door engagements with security agencies are more productive at this critical time.

“Oversight will be exercised responsibly, without creating distractions that embolden adversaries or divert attention from the urgent task of securing Nigeria and its people.”

 

Over 40 senators lost their tickets to return on the platform of the APC, mostly affected are lawmakers who defected from their original political parties to the APC. Sources indicate that most of the lawmakers were promised “automatic return” tickets as a reward for dumping the opposition political parties to join the ruling party.