Akpabio Faces Backlash Over Move To Return As Senate President

A political commentator, Jake Epelle, has criticised Senate President Godswill Akpabio over a motion by senators declaring that the leadership position would remain occupied in the 11th National Assembly.

Epelle accused Akpabio and his colleagues of undermining democratic principles by such actions.

He insisted that the Senate presidency is an elective position and cannot be reserved for an individual before the 2027 general election.

Speaking on Arise News, Epelle said the Senate should not be treated as a monarchy where political positions are transferred or guaranteed without an election.

He also questioned why Akpabio allowed the motion to be presented and adopted, arguing that the position must be decided by members of the incoming Senate in accordance with the Constitution.

Politics Nigeria reports that the criticism followed a motion passed on October 15, 2026, in which senators declared that there was “no vacancy” in the Senate presidency, signalling their support for Akpabio to retain the position in the next assembly.

The motion was moved by Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno, who represents Borno North, and seconded by Senator Cyril Fasuyi of Ekiti North.

Monguno expressed confidence that most serving senators would return to the National Assembly after the 2027 elections before declaring the Senate presidency and other leadership positions unavailable for contest.

“Insha Allah, by the grace of God, majority of us are going to make it back to the Senate, and this seat is hereby declared: there is no vacancy. Including the seat of DSP, there is no vacancy — including principal officers,” he said.

Fasuyi also endorsed the motion, describing himself as an incoming senator in the 11th National Assembly and declaring that Akpabio would retain the Senate presidency.

“My name is Senator Cyril Fasuyi from Ekiti North, a serving senator and an incoming senator in the 11th assembly,” he said.

He added, “I hereby support the motion, ably moved by Senator Monguno, that the seat of the senate president in the 11th Assembly is not open to any contest. It is already occupied by Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio.”

Akpabio subsequently asked senators to indicate their support for the motion. Lawmakers responded affirmatively when he called for those in favour, while no senator openly opposed it.

“They are not here. I think that settles it,” Akpabio said after the chamber remained silent when he asked opponents to respond.

Reacting to the development, Epelle argued that the motion could not override the constitutional process for electing the Senate President.

“Number one, Akpabio and his team must understand that the Senate is not a monarchy, neither is the Senate presidency a hereditary throne,” he said.

He added that no legislative position could be transferred to an individual simply through a declaration or motion when the position was subject to an election.

Epelle further accused Akpabio and the lawmakers who supported the motion of acting contrary to the Constitution, citing Sections 50 to 60 as provisions relevant to the legislative process.

“He has to be practically elected by the newly elected Assembly members,” the commentator said.

He also questioned the certainty expressed by the senators about returning to the National Assembly, asking whether the motion suggested that some lawmakers had already determined the outcome of the 2027 elections.

“So, is there something they are telling us? Is there a script they are trying to play out? Are they saying that they have already been selected, whether there is an election or not?” he asked.

Epelle further claimed that Akpabio had previously visited the State House to seek support from President Bola Tinubu to retain his position.

Describing the motion as undemocratic, the commentator said Akpabio should have recognised the constitutional implications of the declaration, particularly given his background as a lawyer.

“He should have known that this is a total violation of the very Constitution he swore, as a lawyer, to uphold, and which he also swore to uphold as Senate President,” Epelle said.

He added that the development amounted to “a total assault on the Constitution, a slap in the face of Nigerians and very undemocratic.”