The Nigerian Senate has unanimously passed a vote of confidence in the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, alongside the entire Senate leadership. This significant endorsement occurred during a plenary session on Thursday, reflecting the Senate’s solidarity with its leadership amid recent turmoil.
The decision comes in response to reports circulating online that suggested operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) had stormed the National Assembly complex on Wednesday. These reports fueled allegations of a plot to impeach Akpabio, highlighting the growing unease among some northern senators dissatisfied with President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Speculation arose that this faction was attempting to revive earlier efforts to remove Akpabio from his position.
Addressing these rumors, Akpabio firmly rejected the claims of an impending impeachment. During a session on Wednesday, he stated, “We are here, sitting peacefully, doing our work, oblivious to the mischief happening behind us.” He emphasized that the reports were unfounded, asserting, “If they have a lot of traffic… Whoever brought out this fake news must be getting a lot of payment because of the traffic going on. I hope the public understands that this is totally fake news, and the chamber is very stable; the issue of impeachment does not come up.”
Furthermore, Akpabio denounced the proliferation of misinformation, linking it to modern tactics where artificial intelligence is used to manipulate narratives for profit. “This kind of falsehood is part of what we face daily,” he added. “They use AI to manipulate stories, probably to drive traffic and earn money from platforms like YouTube.”
In light of the allegations, Akpabio directed the Senate’s Committee on Special Duties to investigate the origins of the fake news. The Chairman of the Committee, Shehu Kaka, responded promptly, pledging to conduct a thorough investigation and report back to the Senate on the findings.
The vote of confidence serves to reinforce the Senate’s collective support for its leadership amid a climate of uncertainty and speculation, signaling a commitment to stability in the legislative body.
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