Senator Abbo Accuses Akpabio of Masterminding His Sack
•Hints Kalu, three other lawmakers are next
•I know nothing about your removal, Akpabio replies Abbo
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
Sacked Senator Elisha Abbo, representing Adamawa North, has alleged that the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, was behind the ruling of the Appeal Court, which terminated his tenure abruptly in the Senate yesterday.
He spoke with journalists a few hours after the news of his sack went viral in Abuja.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, had sacked Abbo. The appellate court voided Abbo’s election in favour of PDP’s candidate, Amos Yohanna.
Abbo, however, said four other senators had been marked down for similar removal judgement by the court of Appeal.
He said Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North) was the next target of the planned ‘coup’ against five senators from the Senate by its leadership.
He said their offence was that they opposed the emergence of the leadership of the 10th Senate in June.
“I have it from reliable source and very highly placed one for that matter, that myself and four other Senators within the fold of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would be removed from the Senate through rulings from the courts, all because of working against the emergence of Akpabio as President of the 10th Senate.
“I won’t mention the names of all the four other ones targeted but the next in line is Senator Orji Uzor Kalu,” he said.
He wondered how with over 11, 000 votes margin of victory he had above his closest river, Yohanna Amos Yohanna of the Peoples Democratic Party in the election, the Appeal Court still upturned his victory.
“The court judgement is strange and the judiciary needs to please remain the last hope of the common man. For President Bola Tinubu, I must declare that this is not the democracy he fought for and should please lead in protecting it,” he said.
He, however, appealed to his supporters to remain calm even as he boasted that he, could not be taken out of the political space, and vowed to re-contest in 2027 and win.
Abbo, who expressed disappointment that the judiciary was being used by some people he referred to as “cabal members” noted that democracy was being destroyed.
He called on Tinubu to note that the democracy he fought for during the military rule was not the one being practised at the moment, and described the ruling as strange.
The senator, who was shocked that the court could grant a prayer not sought by lawyers of his opponent, said, “This is a coup. But I call on my supporters to remain calm.”
He alleged that his stand against the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC was another issue that pitted him against some forces in the party.
On whether there was actually a plan to impeach Akpabio, Abbo said it was not true, but disclosed that there were serious uproar over the lop-sided manner committee chairmen were appointed without regards to those who supported and voted for the former Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari.
He admitted that because of the uproar, all vice-chairmanship appointment has been dissolved to pave the way for a reconstitution.
In the meantime, Akpabio has said he had no hand in the sacking of Abbo by the Appeal Court.
He dismissed his alleged involvement in the political travail of Senator Abbo through a statement by his Special Adviser, Media, and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh,
He said, “It is unfortunate if he actually said that Akpabio was responsible for his removal. That’s the swan song of a man looking for scapegoats.
“The Court of Appeal across the country decides cases based on the provisions of the Electoral Act and evidence advanced by petitioners. The Senate President has no reason to witch-hunt any of his colleagues.”
