Following the alleged impeachment threat against the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio and other principal officers, senators on Thursday passed a vote of confidence in the entire leadership of the Red Chamber.
The confidence vote, passed during plenary, came barely 24 hours after Wednesday’s social media reports that operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS took over the National Assembly to prevent alleged impeachment plan by some aggrieved members of the Northern Senators Forum against Akpabio in particular.
But a former Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP Kebbi North) drew the attention of his colleagues to a publication which claimed that Northern senators were behind the impeachment plot against Akpabio and the motion was seconded by Senator Aminu Abbas (PDP Adamawa Central).
Senator Abdullahi claimed that such an allegation was a breach of his constitutional right as a citizen and lawmaker, adding that it had put a dent on his reputation and integrity.
He said: “This is about the fake news that was circulating yesterday about an alleged attempt by Northern Senators to take your leadership. I consider this statement as a disguised attempt to create a very serious division in this institution.
“I am a senior member of this chamber and member of the Northern Senators Forum, I can tell you that there is no attempt that I know of by a caucus or any group among the northern senators.”
Senator Abdullahi said he has never conceived such ideas, adding that he had consulted his colleagues from the North and they expressed shock and disbelief of such a report.
On his part, a former Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP Bauchi Central) said he saw no reason as to why such news will emanate on social media, stressing that there was no form of disunity amongst the senators.
“I was taken aback as to why and from my little exploration of that so called fake news, there was an intention by some people outside this chamber according to my source to make sure that they bring a coalition between yourself and the Northern senators.
“In spite of everything people could see that we have been able to relate with you, particularly you and the Deputy Senate President,” he said.
Senator Ningi, thereafter, moved a motion that the Senate pass a vote of confidence on Akpabio, and when put to a voice vote, was supported by all senators present.
In his remarks, the Senate President expressed gratitude for the support from his colleagues and assured them of his intention to continue to provide good leadership.
Some social media platforms had on Wednesday stated that the Senate President was set to be impeached and added that DSS operatives had taken over the National Assembly premises to prevent a plan to impeach the principal officers from taking place.
Reacting to the allegations during the day’s plenary, Akpabio dismissed them, saying there was no end to the manipulation of the social media by people with ulterior motives describing the such reports as fake and should be disregarded.
Also, the spokesman of the Senate, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC Ekiti South) debunked the news, describing it as “ill-will, untraceable and from the gate of hell.”