Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele on Wednesday dismissed reports of any plan to impeach Senate President Godswill Akpabio, calling such claims baseless and potentially divisive for the upper chamber.
Bamidele’s statement came in response to comments by former Senate Chief Whip Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North), who on Tuesday claimed that some senators had previously attempted, unsuccessfully, to unseat Akpabio.
Speaking with journalists at the National Assembly, Kalu said the efforts to destabilize the Senate leadership were thwarted by key members who acted to preserve unity. He urged lawmakers to prioritize legislative stability and national cohesion over political maneuvering.
However, during plenary, Bamidele clarified that no senator had proposed or discussed removing Akpabio.
“There was no attempt by any of our colleagues, nor any discussion on the possibility of removing the Senate President. We are united and have a zero-tolerance policy for distractions because urgent national matters demand our attention. Reports like that are meant to create confusion,” Bamidele said.
“The Senate is stable. There is no crisis, no plan to remove anyone. Our attention is on issues that directly affect Nigerians.”
Bamidele’s rebuttal came less than 24 hours after Kalu claimed that some lawmakers had tried to remove Akpabio but were persuaded to abandon the plan.
“Though there were attempts, we didn’t allow that to happen. That is why I always say we are one big family, and it is not going to happen,” Kalu said.
Kalu further emphasized that the Senate’s priority is supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges through people-centered legislation.
“Whatever the problem is, the Senate is more interested in making laws that will help President Tinubu overcome the economic difficulties our people are facing. We are focused on the people. The legislation we are making is pro-people, ensuring Nigerians can eat three times a day,” he added.
The controversy echoes past tensions in the Senate. In October 2024, speculation of a northern senators’ plot to unseat Akpabio forced the chamber to pass a vote of confidence in his leadership. Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North) then distanced the Northern Senators’ Forum from any such plan, warning that those spreading such narratives were undermining democracy.
Since assuming office in June 2023, Akpabio has faced repeated rumors of intrigue, dissatisfaction, and alleged plots to remove him. Barely two months into his tenure, impeachment rumors surfaced, with some lawmakers accusing him of acting as a proxy for the executive and being overly subservient to the presidency.
Despite dismissing the claims as politically motivated, the allegations exposed early divisions within the 10th Assembly. By October 2024, reports circulated that the Department of State Services had intervened at the National Assembly to prevent Akpabio’s removal—a claim he labeled “fake news.” Even after the Senate’s media office denied the reports, whispers of rebellion persisted.
Tensions resurfaced in July 2025 when Akpabio reportedly clashed with Bamidele during a closed-door session over the unilateral announcement of the Senate’s annual recess. While Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu called the reports “baseless and misleading,” insiders confirmed that tempers had flared. Similar rumors of friction between Akpabio and Bamidele had previously surfaced in November 2024 but were swiftly denied by Bamidele’s office.
At the heart of these tensions lie issues of influence, regional balance, and legislative independence. Akpabio’s closeness to President Tinubu has drawn both loyalty and suspicion—viewed by supporters as fostering executive-legislative harmony, and by critics as evidence of presidential overreach.
