Senate President Godswill Akpabio has strongly refuted claims that he distributed $15,000 in bribes to senators to secure their support for the state of emergency in Rivers State. Calling the allegations baseless and malicious, Akpabio dismissed them as part of a coordinated hate campaign against him.
The accusations, which spread rapidly on social media, alleged that senators received $5,000 on Tuesday and another $10,000 on Wednesday during a fast-breaking event at his residence. However, Akpabio’s media adviser, Eseme Eyiboh, denied the claims, questioning their logic and pointing out that the Senate President has hosted such events in previous years without controversy. He insisted that the rumors were fabrications meant to damage Akpabio’s reputation.
Despite the controversy, the Senate and House of Representatives unanimously approved the state of emergency, leading to the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other key officials. The decision, backed by President Bola Tinubu, aims to restore stability amid rising political tensions in the state.