“I won’t step down over false allegations” – Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has firmly rejected calls for his resignation, describing the allegations against him as false and declaring that he will not be pressured to step down.

Speaking during the Senate plenary on Thursday in Abuja, Akpabio responded directly to remarks made by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who praised the Senate for staying focused in the face of external criticism.

“Mr. President, those who felt that you should have stepped down can now see that this Senate remains focused,” Bamidele said, following the passage of several tax reform bills.

Before Bamidele could finish, Akpabio interjected forcefully, stating:
“I will not step down over false allegations.”

He added, “Who told you I was going to step down? I am not one of those people who would step down over false allegations, and when it is eventually proven that the allegations were false, they’ll say, ‘Oh, we were unfair to Akpabio.’ No! I am not that bad. If you have that in mind, cancel it!”

While the Senate President did not specify the exact allegations, his comment appeared to be a subtle reference to a recent Court of Appeal ruling in Calabar. The court upheld the 2021 conviction of Professor Peter Ogban, who was found guilty of falsifying the 2019 senatorial election results in favour of Akpabio.

Although Akpabio was not directly convicted, the judgment has reignited public scrutiny over his political trajectory, especially after he returned to contest and win a Senate seat in 2023, eventually becoming the Senate President.

In the wake of the ruling, several critics and civil society groups on social media have renewed calls for Akpabio to resign, arguing that the court’s findings cast a shadow over his integrity and moral authority.

However, Akpabio dismissed the calls as distractions from uninformed individuals bent on undermining the National Assembly.

“Let the dreamers dream,” he said, reinforcing his stance that he would continue to lead the Senate and focus on legislative priorities.

Watch the video HERE…