Senate President Godswill Akpabio returned to Abuja early Monday after what his media team described as a brief holiday in London.
Akpabio landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport around 4 a.m., where he was welcomed at the presidential wing by lawmakers, aides, and supporters.
His arrival followed speculation on social media suggesting that he was gravely ill and receiving treatment in the United Kingdom. Addressing journalists on arrival, the Senate president dismissed the reports, calling them “the imagination of the purveyors.”
“There’s nothing like such. I’m fit as a fiddle. I only stopped over in London for a short vacation,” he said.
Before his London visit, Akpabio had attended the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva, Switzerland, held from July 29 to 31.
He noted that the Nigerian delegation made strong contributions at the event, particularly in pushing for deeper democratic governance and stronger collaboration between arms of government.
Looking ahead, he promised Nigerians “robust legislative engagements” when the Senate reconvenes from recess.
Akpabio, 62, was elected president of the 10th Senate in June 2023. He is a former governor of Akwa Ibom State and served as minister of the Niger Delta affairs.
Gbenga Daniels speaks about Akpabio
Speculation about his health had earlier been dismissed by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Gbenga Daniel, who met Akpabio in London on August 11.
The New Daily Prime reported that Daniel revealed that he had made a brief stopover in the UK capital to personally inform the Senate president of his intention to return to Nigeria for the upcoming 16th August bye-election.
“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.” Daniel said.
