Senate leader opens up on alleged physical confrontation with Akpabio

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has denied allegations of a physical altercation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the National Assembly.

The claims, shared by Jackson Ude on his X account, accused Bamidele of confronting Akpabio over the alleged marginalization of southern lawmakers in committee assignments.

https://x.com/jacksonpbn/status/1859603693395427794?t=6WLD-rMoHUcex2BM4Q1rxw&s=19

In a swift response through a statement from his media team, Bamidele rubbished the allegations, describing them as “untrue and unfounded.” The lawmaker labeled Ude a “serial blackmailer” and criticized him for spreading misinformation to disrupt the Senate’s unity.

“For the record, Senator Bamidele has never been involved in physical assault throughout his political career, including during his tenure as NANS President,” the statement read. It added that the Senate Leader and Akpabio, alongside other principal officers, met with the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, YU Dunhai, shortly after plenary on the same day the alleged brawl occurred.

Photographs from the meeting, widely published in national newspapers, and the fact that Bamidele and Akpabio left the National Assembly premises together in the same vehicle further disproved the claims.

The statement also cautioned against sensationalism, urging the public to disregard the rumor. Bamidele warned that he would employ legal measures under the Cybercrime Act of 2015 to address future defamatory claims.

“This baseless misinformation aims to destabilize the Senate and heat up the political space, but it has failed. The 10th Senate remains united and focused on its national duties,” the statement concluded.