Senate President Godswill Akpabio is facing backlash for establishing an office for his wife, Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, in the National Assembly. Unoma is the founder of the Family Life Enhancement Initiative (FLEI), a non-governmental organization.
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Sources within the National Assembly have reported that many senators are displeased with Akpabio’s decision to create the Office of the First Lady to the Senate President, a role that did not exist in previous legislative assemblies.
According to a source, “There is outrage in the National Assembly because Senate President Akpabio created an office for his wife, Unoma. There is now an office of First Lady to the Senate President.”
Godswill Akpabio currently serves as the 15th President of the Nigerian Senate, having secured the position during the 10th Assembly. He won with 63 votes, defeating former Zamfara State governor Abdul-Azziz Yari, who secured 46 votes. Akpabio’s political career has seen him serve as a senator representing Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District from 2015 to 2019 and as Minister for Niger Delta Affairs from 2019 to 2022. He was also the governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015.
Akpabio has not been a stranger to controversies during his political career. In August, SaharaReporters exclusively reported that fellow senators were angered by Akpabio’s revelation in a viral video that they had received bribe money during ministerial screening.
In the video, Akpabio told members of the upper legislative chamber that an undisclosed sum of money had been sent to each of their accounts for their holiday enjoyment. However, he later rephrased his statement, stating, “I withdraw that statement. In order to allow you to enjoy your holiday, the senate president has sent prayers to your mailboxes to assist you to go on a safe journey and return.”
This revelation caused a commotion on the Senate floor, and senators were reportedly upset about being exposed for receiving bribe money during ministerial screenings.
Sources within the National Assembly revealed that N2 million was sent to each senator’s account by Akpabio, who had allegedly received N1 billion from ministerial nominees. Senators considered Akpabio’s actions as a form of blackmail and expressed displeasure at being portrayed negatively in the public eye.
The controversy surrounding Akpabio’s recent actions and the alleged bribe money distributed to senators has created tension within the National Assembly, as senators prepare to address the situation and its potential impact on their constituents’ perception of their integrity.
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