Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has debunked reports claiming that he promised automatic senatorial tickets to lawmakers who were defeated in the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections.
This follows remarks he made while addressing senators upon their return from a three-week recess and the Eid-el-Kabir holiday.
Akpabio expressed optimism that efforts were being made to address concerns arising from the party’s primary process.
Speaking at the plenary session, the Senate President acknowledged the challenges faced by some lawmakers and noted that the leadership of the Senate was working to minimise disappointments among members.
However, in a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio said reports claiming he guaranteed tickets for affected senators were inaccurate.
According to the statement, the Senate President merely sympathised with colleagues who were unsuccessful in the primaries and assured them that the APC leadership was reviewing issues arising from the exercise.
“What the President of the Senate actually said was to empathise with senators who were affected negatively by the outcome of their primary elections,” the statement said.
“He assured them that the leadership of the 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.”
