Senate President Godswill Akpabio has defended the Senate’s decision to reject a motion seeking a public probe of the budgets of the Nigerian Armed Forces, saying such an inquiry at this time could worsen tension, create panic, weaken troop morale and distract the military from its core duty of securing the country.
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Akpabio also denied reports that he promised senatorial tickets to serving lawmakers who lost in the recent All Progressives Congress primaries, insisting that he only sympathised with affected senators and assured them that the APC leadership was addressing issues arising from the primaries.
The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh.
The controversy over defence spending followed a motion by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, who had called for a probe of military expenditure amid worsening insecurity across the country.
Oshiomhole argued that despite huge allocations to the defence and security sector, terrorism, banditry and kidnapping had continued to rise. He said the Senate needed to determine whether funds appropriated for security operations were properly utilised.
In the 2026 budget, the Federal Government allocated about N5.4 trillion to the security sector, representing nearly 10 per cent of the total budget of over N58 trillion. Of the amount, the Ministry of Defence received N3.1 trillion, the Army N1.5 trillion, the Navy N443.9 billion, and the Air Force N407 billion. The intelligence sector also received over N664.11 billion.
Oshiomhole maintained that the Armed Forces must be accountable to Nigerians, especially given the increasing security challenges despite the large budgetary allocations.
“If the armed forces are not accountable, we can’t make progress. We need to carry out a security audit; money was released, who used it?” he said.
He also recalled an earlier incident in Kebbi State, where schoolchildren were abducted after military personnel were allegedly withdrawn from the area. According to him, the Senate had passed a resolution demanding the identity of the military commander who ordered the withdrawal, but no action had been taken.
“We passed a resolution that the military should release the name of the officer who gave the order. Till date, no action has been taken,” Oshiomhole said.
However, Akpabio said although legislative oversight remains a constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly, the current security situation requires caution.
According to the statement, the Senate President believes that a public legislative probe of the Armed Forces at a time troops are fighting terrorism, banditry and other threats could undermine morale and operational focus.
“While legislative oversight is a constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly, Senator Akpabio’s position is that this is not the opportune moment for a public probe of the Armed Forces,” the statement said.
“At a time when our troops are engaged on multiple fronts against terrorism, banditry and other threats to national security, subjecting the military to a public legislative inquisition could undermine their morale and operational focus.”
Akpabio said support, collaboration and closed-door engagements with security agencies would be more productive at this critical time.
He added that oversight would still be carried out responsibly, but in a manner that would not embolden adversaries or divert attention from the urgent task of securing Nigeria and its people.
The Senate President also addressed reports that he had promised to secure senatorial tickets for lawmakers who lost in the APC primaries.
Akpabio had, while welcoming senators back from a three-week recess and the Eid-el-Kabir break, said efforts were being made to reduce the political fallout from the primaries.
“And in this Senate, we are promised that we will have very few disappointments. And I do know that the Senate Leader and the leadership of the Senate are working very hard towards that,” he had said.
But in the statement, Akpabio said his comments were misrepresented, adding that he neither made nor authorised any promise to secure tickets for senators affected by the outcome of the primaries.
The statement said, “What the President of the Senate actually said, in the course of interacting with his colleagues, was to empathise with senators who were affected negatively by the outcome of their primary elections.
“He assured them that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress is actively working to address all issues arising from the primaries and that the final list of candidates will be released in due course in line with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.”
Akpabio said he remains committed to party discipline, due process and respect for the internal mechanisms of the APC.
He added that he would not interfere with the party’s processes or make commitments beyond the authority of the National Assembly leadership.
Fourteen serving senators were reportedly defeated during the APC primaries across different states.
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