Senators in tactical move to retain Akpabio, principal officers in 2027

Some senators began an early campaign on Thursday for the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, to retain the seat in the 11th Assembly (2027–2031), declaring that “there is no vacancy”.

The development came barely 24 hours after President Bola Tinubu inaugurated his 2027 campaign council, confirming his joint ticket with Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

The senators declared their support for Akpabio on the floor of the Senate after he complained that he had come under attack over his recent comment that anybody who attempted suicide must ensure he died or face jail.

Akpabio said his comment was being twisted in some quarters, including being given a religious slant to suggest that he was referring to a particular group.

He added that with the positions of the president and vice-president already taken, his seat would be the next target of attacks.

“The position of President and Vice-President is gone; the one left is the position of the Senate President. So anyone can talk down on me,” Akpabio stated.

As Akpabio spoke, the Senate Chief Whip, Mohammed Monguno, rose to declare that there would be no vacancy in the office of the Senate President in the 11th National Assembly.

Monguno, who represents Borno North Senatorial District, told the Senate that Akpabio would retain the seat even though the January 16 polls were still months away.

He claimed that many serving senators would return after the polls and support Akpabio’s second term.

The chief whip said, “Insha Allah, by the grace of God, the majority of us are going to make it back to the Senate, and this seat is hereby declared: there is no vacancy.

“Sir, including the seat of the Deputy Senate President, there is no vacancy, including principal officers.”

Ekiti North Senator, Cyril Fasuyi, echoed Monguno’s submission, stressing, “I hereby support the motion ably moved by Sen. Monguno, that the seat of the Senate President in the 11th Assembly is not open to any contest.

“It is already occupied by Sen. Godswill Obot Akpabio.”

Seizing the opportunity, Akpabio sought the opinion of other senators, asking those in support of the declaration to say “ayes” and those against it to say “nay”. He then brought down his gavel in favour of the ayes, adding, “I think that settles it.”

He, however, advised his colleagues against making comments that might be misinterpreted outside the chamber, urging commentators to consider the Senate’s final decisions rather than politicising legislative debates to score points.

The Senate President also rejected attempts to associate terrorism with a particular religion, insisting that terrorists should not be regarded as representatives of Islam or Christianity.

He said, “Terrorists are not Muslims. Terrorists are not Christians. Terrorists are human beings who believe in taking their lives and the lives of others.”

Akpabio argued that Islam and Christianity forbade suicide, adding that the misinterpretation of religious teachings should not be used to justify suicide bombings or any form of terrorism.

Making a contribution, Senator Babangida Hussaini (Jigawa North-West) cited Surah An-Nisa, Chapter 4, Verse 29, of the Quran, saying the holy book prohibited taking one’s own life or killing another person.

He added, “The Quran specifically and unambiguously prohibits taking one’s own life and killing another person.

“There is no question of anybody taking their own life or another person’s life under any pretext. Allah has completely forbidden that.”

Hussaini recalled how Akpabio constructed a hostel accommodating more than 300 female students at the Federal Polytechnic, Kazaure, in 2010, when he was governor, adding that public debates on religious issues should be informed by a proper understanding of religious teachings.