Senate President Godswill Akpabio has refuted claims that he intends to contest the 2027 presidential election alongside former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. Reports surfaced after posters promoting their candidacy appeared in parts of Abuja.
In a statement released on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio dismissed the posters as the work of mischief makers. He emphasized that his current focus is on supporting President Bola Tinubu through legislative collaboration.
“The attention of the office of the President of the Senate has been drawn to posters circulating in some parts of Kaduna associating the President of the Senate with a supposed El-Rufai 2027 political ambition. This is the handiwork of mischief makers and familiar fifth columnists,” the statement read.
Akpabio clarified that he has no interest in running for president and urged security agencies to investigate the matter. He described the posters as an attempt to create division among the president’s loyalists.
“Senator Akpabio is presently preoccupied with the responsibility of collaborating and providing the required legislative support to President Bola Tinubu to reset Nigeria and make the nation regain its pride of place in the comity of nations,” Eyiboh stated.
The statement underscored that Akpabio has been focused on his duties as the Chairman of the National Assembly since June 13, 2023, and has not contemplated a presidential run.
“We implore members of the public to disregard this unbridled mischief intended to distract Nigerians from the purposeful and positive interventions the Senate under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio is demonstrating,” the statement concluded.
