Oshiomhole: Senators Secretly Fed Up With Akpabio’s Leadership

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has alleged that a growing number of lawmakers in the 10th National Assembly are dissatisfied with the leadership style of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, claiming that discontent is quietly building within the Red Chamber.

The former Edo State governor made the remarks during an appearance on the Mic On Podcast hosted by journalist Seun Okinbaloye, where he spoke on his relationship with the Senate President and the internal dynamics of the upper legislative chamber.

Responding to a question about whether he had become a political threat to Akpabio, Oshiomhole suggested that the Senate President views him with suspicion and has become overly concerned about his activities.

According to the senator representing Edo North, Akpabio has developed what he described as an unwarranted fear of him, despite the fact that several other lawmakers also have reservations about the current leadership style in the Senate.

“He is paranoid about everything that has to do with me,” Oshiomhole said during the interview.

The former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress further alleged that if Akpabio had the opportunity, he would prefer to exclude him from Senate activities altogether.

“Everybody in the Senate knows that if Senator Akpabio had his way, he would lock me out of the Senate because he has misled himself into thinking that I’m probably the devil he knows,” he stated.

However, Oshiomhole argued that the issues within the Senate go beyond his personal relationship with the Senate President, insisting that many lawmakers are unhappy with the manner in which the chamber is currently being run.

He claimed that several senators have privately expressed concerns over Akpabio’s approach to leadership, although such frustrations are not always publicly voiced.

“However, there are many agents he doesn’t know, and the 11th Senate will not be the 10th Senate,” Oshiomhole remarked.

The lawmaker predicted that the composition and character of the National Assembly could change significantly after the 2027 general elections, potentially altering the political dynamics that currently exist within the Senate.

“This I can say, senators are groveling about his style of leadership,” he added.

While Oshiomhole did not provide specific details about the grievances of his colleagues, his comments suggest the possibility of underlying tensions within the upper chamber as lawmakers prepare for future political contests and leadership battles.

The remarks are likely to fuel fresh debate over the state of internal relations within the Senate and could trigger reactions from supporters of the Senate President and other members of the National Assembly.

Since his emergence as Senate President in June 2023, Akpabio has presided over the 10th Senate amid varying opinions about his leadership style, with supporters praising his political experience and critics occasionally questioning aspects of his management of legislative affairs.

Oshiomhole’s latest comments add another layer to ongoing discussions about power dynamics within the National Assembly as political actors begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections and the eventual inauguration of the 11th National Assembly.