Abbo Accuses Akpabio of Plotting His Sack from Senate, Akpabio Denies

The Court of Appeal in Abuja removed Senator Elisha Abbo, the former representative of Adamawa North Senatorial District, from the Senate. Abbo blamed Senate President Godswill Akpabio for his sack, which happened on Monday, October 16, 2023. He said Akpabio planned his removal because he did not support his ambition to become Senate President in 2023.

Abbo spoke to reporters at his home in Abuja and said Akpabio wanted to get rid of four more senators who were against him, including Senator Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia North. He said he had a trustworthy source who told him about Akpabio’s scheme to use the courts to eliminate his rivals in the Senate.

Abbo called the Court of Appeal’s decision that annulled his election a “conspiracy” and an “attack on democracy”. He said he beat his nearest opponent, Rev. Amos Yohanna of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), by more than 11,000 votes and questioned how the court could reverse his win based on alleged irregularities and over-voting.

He urged his supporters to stay calm and promised them that he would run again in 2027. He also said he would soon speak to the press about the issue.

On the other hand, Akpabio denied any role in Abbo’s troubles and rejected his accusations as groundless and false. His media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, issued a statement and said Akpabio had no motive to persecute any of his colleagues in the Senate.

Eyiboh said that Abbo was looking for someone to blame for his bad luck and advised him to respect the verdict of the court. He said that Akpabio was concentrating on providing quality representation to his people and working with other senators to promote the legislative agenda of the 10th Senate.