Nigerian Senate in Crisis: Ex-Senator Alleges Dictatorship

Nigerian Senate in Crisis: Ex-Senator Alleges Dictatorship

Former Senator Ishaku Abbo has issued a strong warning about the state of Nigeria’s Senate, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of consolidating power in a way that threatens democracy.

Ishaku alleges that Akpabio envisions a personal empire where his authority overshadows democratic principles. According to him, the Senate now operates as an extension of the presidency, losing its independence.

Ishaku Abbo, a former senator from Adamawa State, further accused Akpabio of using his position to punish those who oppose him. He cited the Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan sex scandal as an example of how the Senate President allegedly seeks revenge against critics.

The ex-senator called on Akpabio to submit to a full investigation rather than silencing opposition voices.

He warned that if Akpabio is not checked, his actions could undermine President Tinubu’s administration, damaging the country’s democratic institutions.

The former senator believes that the Senate President’s growing influence is a direct threat to governance, as he wields his power like a sledgehammer, crushing dissenting voices.

Speaking during an interview, Ishaku Abbo described Akpabio’s leadership as reckless, saying, “The Senate leadership has gone stark raving bonkers.”

He claimed that Akpabio played a direct role in his removal from the Senate, detailing how he was sidelined after refusing to support Akpabio’s campaign for Senate President.

Ishaku recalled an encounter at the Transcorp Hilton, where Akpabio allegedly tried to persuade him to switch allegiances.

“He came to my hotel room at 2 AM, pleading with me to support him. I told him I was committed to Senator Ablazari. I wished him luck, but I refused his offer,” Ishaku said.

He further alleged that Akpabio orchestrated the removal of five senators, including himself.

“Akpabio told me five senators would be removed. I didn’t realize I was one of them until it happened,” he said.

According to Ishaku, the Senate President made good on his promise, using his influence to push him out of office.

The ex-senator also accused Akpabio of financial retaliation. He recounted an incident where he traveled to Kenya for a parliamentary assignment, spending $14,000 of his own money. When he submitted reimbursement documents, he was denied payment.

Additionally, Ishaku claimed he was supposed to attend an Inter-Parliamentary Union conference in Angola but was blocked from representing Nigeria at the event.

Ishaku also accused Akpabio of withholding his salary and official entitlements.

“I was removed on October 19, yet my salary for that month was not paid, even though Senate rules dictate that salaries be paid in full after the 15th of the month,” he explained.

The alleged injustice extended to official Senate vehicles. Ishaku claimed that out of the seven senators who left the 10th National Assembly, all except him received their official cars.

“Even senators who left before me got their vehicles. But because I challenged Akpabio, I was singled out,” he said.

He emphasized that his criticism is not personal revenge but a warning about Akpabio’s unchecked power.

“I’m not seeking payback. I’m exposing the dangers of a Senate President who is turning our democracy into a dictatorship,” he stated.

Ishaku Abbo’s accusations add to growing concerns about Akpabio’s leadership style. Critics argue that the Senate President operates with an iron grip, punishing perceived enemies and centralizing control in a way that erodes democracy.

Supporters of Akpabio, however, dismiss the claims as political grievances from disgruntled former lawmakers.

The controversy raises broader questions about the state of Nigeria’s democracy. Is the Senate still an independent institution, or has it become an extension of the executive branch? As the political battle unfolds, Nigerians watch closely, wondering whether checks and balances will prevail or if one man’s influence will reshape the nation’s governance.

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