The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Gbenga Daniel, has debunked rumours that Senate President Godswill Akpabio is hospitalised in London.
In a statement on Monday, Daniel, who represents Ogun East Senatorial District, said he met Akpabio in London during a stopover and found the reports about his ill health to be untrue.
According to Jackson Udom, Special Assistant on Media to Akpabio, Daniel visited the Senate President to personally brief him on his political plans ahead of the August 16 bye-election for the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency seat in Ogun State.
The seat became vacant following the death of Adewumi Onanuga, former Deputy Whip of the House of Representatives.
“I am here to formally inform you, Mr Senate President, that I will be returning to Nigeria to partake in the August 16 bye-election into the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North federal constituency, which was declared vacant after the death of late Hon Onanuga,” Daniel was quoted as saying.
Addressing speculation about Akpabio’s health, Daniel added: “Your excellency, the news out there is that you have been indisposed, but seeing you here now paints a very different picture. Congratulations, your excellency.”
In his response, Akpabio thanked Daniel for the visit and commended his interest in the bye-election. He expressed confidence that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would retain the seat.
“With the commitments and support of Governor Dapo Abiodun, your good self and other stakeholders of our party in the state, we will retain the House of Representatives seat at the end of the election,” Akpabio said.
He further assured, “Let me congratulate you in advance, because you have all it takes to retain that federal constituency seat for our great party. You are from there, and interestingly, the governor is also from there, so I don’t harbour any fear.”
Speaking on the rumours about his health, Akpabio dismissed them, saying, “If you listen to the social media, you will go to war.”
The Senate President’s appearance and comments appear to have put to rest speculation about his health status, which had been circulating on social media in recent days.
