Senator Gbenga Daniel, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, has categorically refuted widespread rumours suggesting that Senate President Godswill Akpabio is currently hospitalised in an undisclosed London medical facility.
Speaking during a visit to the Senate President in London, Senator Daniel revealed that he had made a brief stopover in the UK capital to personally inform Akpabio of his intention to return to Nigeria for the upcoming 16th August bye-election.
The poll aims to fill the vacant Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency seat in Ogun State, left open following the passing of Hon Adewumi Onanuga, the former Deputy Whip of the House of Representatives.
“I am here to formally inform you, Mr Senate President, that I will be returning to Nigeria to partake in the August 16th bye-elections into the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency, which was declared vacant after the death of late Hon Onanuga,” Daniel said.
Addressing speculation about Akpabio’s health, Daniel added, “Your Excellency, the news out there is that you have been indisposed, but seeing you here now paints a very different picture. Congratulations, Your Excellency.”
In a statement issued by Jackson Udom, Special Assistant on Media to Senate President Akpabio, the Senate leader expressed appreciation for Daniel’s visit and welcomed the senator’s decision to actively engage in the bye-election.
Akpabio, in his remarks, voiced strong confidence in the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s prospects in the forthcoming poll.
“With the commitments and support of Governor Dapo Abiodun, your good self and other stakeholders of our party in the state, we will retain the House of Representatives seat at the end of the election,” Akpabio assured.
“Let me congratulate you in advance, because you have all it takes to retain that Federal Constituency seat for our great party. You are from there and, interestingly, the Governor is also from there, so I don’t harbour any fear.”
On the health rumours circulating, particularly across social media, Akpabio dismissed them lightly, saying, “If you listen to the social media, you will go to war.”
The visit and public refutation of the reports have put to rest days of speculation surrounding the Senate President’s health and reaffirmed his active engagement in the nation’s political affairs ahead of the critical bye-election.
