Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed allegations that he distributed $15,000 to senators to secure their endorsement of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling the claims nothing more than a “malicious hate campaign” against him.
For days, social media has been buzzing with reports that Akpabio hosted lawmakers at his Maitama residence, where he allegedly handed out $5,000 on Tuesday and an additional $10,000 on Wednesday—just before the crucial vote.
Breaking his silence, Akpabio, through his media aide, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, denied the accusations outright, stating that his gatherings were merely traditional fast-breaking events, not political bargaining sessions.
“He has hosted fast-breaking events before—last year and this year. So why the sudden rumor?” Eyiboh questioned.
He further challenged the credibility of the claims: “Giving out money for what exactly? People are just fabricating these figures—$5,000, $10,000—to add weight to their hate campaign. It’s baseless.”
Despite the controversy, both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed the state of emergency proclamation for Rivers State in a unanimous voice vote on Thursday. However, the bribery rumors continue to fuel debate, with critics and supporters locked in a heated back-and-forth.
