Akpabio, Bamidele Did Not Clash – Senate Refutes Media Reports

The Senate has refuted reports making the rounds in the media suggesting that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele clashed during an executive session convened to deliberate on whether the Senate should proceed on its annual recess.

In a statement issued on Saturday by Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, the Senate described the reports as “entirely false” and a misrepresentation of the established practices within parliamentary systems.

“Our attention has been drawn to diverse media reports claiming that President of the Senate, His Excellency Godswill Akpabio, GCON, and Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, CON, clashed during an executive session,” Adaramodu said. “The reports do not contain any iota of truth. In entirety, they misconstrue our time-tested practices and traditions in the parliament worldwide.”

He explained that debates and disagreements during sessions are normal parts of legislative engagements, where members regardless of party affiliation have the right to raise questions and deliberate on issues before any decision is made.

“The Senate, as our country’s highest law-making institution, is not different in any way. Like other parliaments across the world, every bill, motion, and proposal is subjected to intense scrutiny and robust debate in the chamber purely in the interest of the over 230 million Nigerians we represent,” the statement added.

He emphasized that such healthy debates should not be interpreted as altercations or evidence of internal rifts.

“Whether in the chamber or committee rooms, debates on policy issues should not be misconstrued as altercations among members. Neither do they suggest any crack in the rank of the leadership,” Adaramodu said.

He urged the media to be cautious and accurate in reporting internal legislative proceedings, adding that the leadership of the 10th Senate remains united and focused on delivering on its constitutional mandate.