In a forceful rebuttal, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed allegations that senators were bribed with $15,000 each to approve President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The claim, which surfaced just days after the National Assembly’s approval, has sparked outrage and controversy.
On Tuesday, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing a deepening political crisis and ongoing vandalism of oil installations.
As part of the declaration, Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly for a six-month period. Additionally, the president appointed retired Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator of the state.
Just days later, on Thursday, the National Assembly swiftly passed the emergency rule, drawing sharp criticism and prompting claims that lawmakers were financially incentivized to support the measure.
A report circulating in the media alleged that 45 senators were each offered $5,000 on Tuesday night, followed by another 42 senators who supposedly received $10,000 each on Wednesday, just before the emergency rule was approved.
However, Senate President Akpabio vehemently denied these accusations, labeling them an attempt to discredit and blackmail the lawmakers.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his spokesperson, Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio strongly refuted the bribery claims. He confirmed that while he had hosted senators at his guest house for an Iftar meal, no financial transactions or exchanges of money took place.
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“This is a malicious attempt to tarnish the reputation of the Senate and its members,” Akpabio said. “The allegations are false and unfounded. Our decisions are driven by the national interest, not by bribery or coercion.”
The controversy surrounding the approval of the emergency rule has only added fuel to the ongoing political tensions in Rivers State, where the federal government’s actions continue to stir debate about governance and political power.
“It is true that I confirmed the Iftar meeting and further asserted that the Distinguished Senate President has always hosted his colleagues of both religious faiths in every season of spiritual rebirth,” the statement reads.
“There has never existed any reason to share any money in such a solemn meeting, and no money in any currency was shared.
“I have vehemently denied this spurious rumour of sharing any money. The rumour in itself is peddled by the merchants of blackmail enterprise to add flavour to their subsisting hate and malice campaign.”
