Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Thursday criticised former Senator Elisha Abbo, who represented Adamawa North, for alleging that he influenced the Court of Appeal ruling that removed him from the Senate in 2023, calling the accusations “irresponsible.”
Akpabio dismissed Abbo’s allegations, stating that his removal was a judicial decision confirming he was not the rightful winner of the election.
In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio expressed shock that Abbo, who had previously apologized for making similar allegations in 2023, had now repeated them.
Abbo made the claims during an interview on Arise Television, where he discussed the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
He alleged that Akpabio was a vindictive politician who denied him entitlements such as salaries, allowances, and an official SUV.
Akpabio’s statement denied these claims and instead referenced Abbo’s past controversies, including a 2019 incident where he was caught on video assaulting a woman in Abuja, for which a court ordered him to pay N50 million in damages.
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The statement emphasised that Abbo’s removal from the Senate was based on a thorough legal process by the Court of Appeal, which ruled that he was not validly elected.
It also clarified that Akpabio had no role in the court’s decision and respected judicial independence.
Regarding Abbo’s claims of withheld benefits, the statement explained that all payments must go through proper administrative channels and due diligence before approval. It dismissed Abbo’s accusations as an attempt to remain politically relevant.
Akpabio reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and urged Abbo to accept responsibility for his legal and political setbacks instead of resorting to media theatrics.
The statement concluded by advising Abbo to respect the rule of law and rebuild the trust of his constituents if he hopes to return to public office.
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