Akpabio runs Senate like personal empire, targets lawmakers who oppose him – Senator Abbo
*Reveals vindictiveness of Akpabio as Senate President *Question why Akpabio who was not suspended for clashing with Saraki could suspend Natasha
Abbo also pointed out the inconsistency in Senate disciplinary actions, referencing Akpabio’s own altercations in the 8th Senate.
Former Adamawa North Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo has accused Senate President God’swill Akpabio of targeting lawmakers, who oppose his leadership, and of running the Nigerian Senate like a personal empire.
Abbo, while featuring on Arise News programme, PrimeTime Show Wednesday night, also alleged that Akpabio orchestrated the removal of senators who did not align with him which is the reason behind the recall plot being witnessed of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“He (Akpabio) told me that five senators would be removed. I asked how he knew, and he said, ‘I am the Senate President. I know.’ True to his words, five of us were removed. I had no idea that I was one of them,” he stated.
Recalling the events leading up to Akpabio’s election as Senate President, Abbo claimed he rejected Akpabio’s request for support.
“When I won election into the 10th Senate, I became the de facto DG Campaign to Senator Abdulaziz Yari. He (Akpabio) came to my hotel room around 2am, asking for my support. I told him I was already committed to Yari and wished him good luck,” he said.
Abbo further alleged that financial inducements were offered to senators to support Akpabio. “At a meeting at Transcorp Hilton, $10,000 was being distributed, but I refused to take any money,” he revealed.
Akpabio was also accused by the former senator of denying him certain privileges after his removal. “Every other senator who was removed by the courts got their vehicles, but I was excluded. This is the level of vindictiveness displayed by Akpabio,” he said.
Senator Elisha Abbo also said Senator Ali Ndume was sidelined by Akpabio for challenging the Senate’s leadership.
He said, “Now, let’s look at Senator Ali Ndume. He was the DG to Akpabio. When he raised concerns about the way things were being run in the Senate, he was removed as Chief Whip and stripped of his position as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
“I also moved a motion to amend the Senate Standing Rules so that only senators who had served at least one term could contest for Senate leadership. But what did Akpabio do? He rewrote the rules to allow first-term senators to become leaders of both the majority and minority caucuses— just so he could control them.
“Do you know that in Akpabio’s house, senators serve him tea?” He asked a very puzzling question that left lips wagging.
“Well, I am telling you now. And I told him, ‘You are no longer a governor. These senators are our colleagues, not your commissioners. They are not here to serve you tea,’” Abbo alleged.
“I have always defended the integrity of the Senate. The issue is the leadership, not the institution itself.”
Akpabio exposing Natasha’s life to danger
L-R: Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Elisha Abbo.
The former Adamawa North Senator, Elisha Abbo, also accused Senate President God’swill Akpabio of exposing suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to life-threatening danger by ordering the withdrawal of her security details.
Abbo, speaking on the Arise News’ PrimeTime Show, criticised Akpabio’s handling of Natasha’s suspension, describing it as politically biased and high-handed.
The Senate had earlier suspended Natasha for six months over her failure to substantiate sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio.
However, Abbo argued that the Senate President’s actions went beyond legislative discipline and placed Natasha at risk.
“In the case of Natasha, it took a different dimension,” Abbo stated. “He (Akpabio) sat like the emperor he claims he is and ordered her suspension, withdrew her security, stopped her salary, barred her from the National Assembly, and even instructed the Inspector General of Police not to provide her security.”
The former senator insisted that such a move deliberately endangered Natasha.
“When you withdraw somebody’s security — which is not right — that means you are exposing her to be killed,” he said.
Abbo also pointed out the inconsistency in Senate disciplinary actions, referencing Akpabio’s own altercations in the 8th Senate.
“If Akpabio was not suspended for clashing with Saraki, why is Natasha suspended for six months?” he questioned.
Neither Akpabio nor the Senate leadership has responded to Abbo’s claims at the time of this report.
