Akpabio, Oshiomhole Reconcile After Weeks of Tension in Senate

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and the Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, on Thursday publicly announced a truce, ending weeks of strained relations that had played out during Senate proceedings.

The reconciliation unfolded during plenary after Oshiomhole accused Akpabio of repeatedly ignoring him despite his attempts to raise a Point of Order.

The former Edo State governor also jokingly complained that the Senate President had failed to protect lawmakers who are “vertically challenged”—a light-hearted reference to his height—which drew laughter from colleagues.

Responding, Akpabio denied deliberately overlooking Oshiomhole, explaining that he had been attending to another lawmaker, Senator Onawo Ogoshi of Nasarawa South, who had been speaking on an earlier matter.

The Senate President used the opportunity to publicly apologise to Oshiomhole, saying there was no intention to slight him.

“Agreement is agreement,” Akpabio remarked, borrowing a popular phrase associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, a comment that sparked laughter across the chamber.

The exchange effectively ended recent tensions between the two senior lawmakers, whose relationship had become strained over a number of contentious issues.

Oshiomhole had recently opposed proposed amendments to the Senate Standing Rules on eligibility for the office of Senate President and had also criticised the handling of the Senate Public Accounts Committee’s invitation to former NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari.

More recently, he strongly objected to the nomination of Professor Abayomi Fasina as a non-career ambassador over allegations of sexual misconduct.

During one of their previous exchanges, Akpabio had taken a swipe at Oshiomhole by referencing a viral video showing the former labour leader aboard a private jet with a female companion.

Thursday’s public reconciliation, however, signalled a return to cordial relations between the two lawmakers, with senators welcoming the development with laughter and applause.