The Office of the President of the Senate has dismissed reports alleging that Senate President Godswill Akpabio promised to secure senatorial tickets for lawmakers who lost in the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections.

In a statement issued on Saturday, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, said the reports were misleading and did not reflect what the Senate President actually said.

According to the statement, Akpabio did not make or authorise any promise guaranteeing tickets for senators affected by the outcome of the party primaries.

He explained that the Senate President only expressed sympathy for colleagues who were affected by the results and reassured them that the party leadership was working to address issues arising from the primaries.

Eyiboh added that Akpabio informed the lawmakers that the final list of candidates would be released in due course, in line with the APC constitution and electoral guidelines.

“What the President of the Senate actually said, in the course of interacting with his colleagues, was to empathise with senators who were affected negatively by the outcome of their primary elections,” the statement read.

“He assured them that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress is actively working to address all issues arising from the primaries and that the final list of candidates will be released in due course in line with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.”

The aide also stressed that Akpabio remains committed to party discipline, due process, and internal dispute resolution mechanisms within the APC, adding that he would not interfere in the party’s independent processes.

He further clarified reports suggesting that the Senate President opposed legislative scrutiny of the military following recent security incidents.

While acknowledging that oversight is a constitutional duty of the National Assembly, the statement said Akpabio believes that a public probe of the Armed Forces at this time could negatively affect the morale of troops engaged in counter-terrorism and anti-banditry operations.

Eyiboh said the Senate President prefers closed-door engagements and collaboration with security agencies rather than public hearings that could distract military personnel from ongoing operations.

“Senator Akpabio’s position is that this is not the opportune moment for a public probe of the Armed Forces. At a time when our troops are engaged on multiple fronts against terrorism, banditry and other threats to national security, subjecting the military to a public legislative inquisition could undermine their morale and operational focus,” he said.

Akpabio also urged journalists and members of the public to disregard what he described as sensational reports and to seek clarification from his office before publishing information related to his remarks.