Gbenga Daniel, who chairs the Senate Committee on Navy, has denied rumors that Senate President Godswill Akpabio was admitted to a hospital in London.
According to a Monday statement from Jackson Udom, Akpabio’s special assistant on media, Daniel visited the Senate President in London.
Daniel, who represents Ogun East, said he made a stop in London to let Akpabio know that he would be returning to Nigeria for the August 16 bye-election. The election is being held to fill the vacant Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North federal constituency seat in his state.
The seat became available after the “death” of Adewumi Onanuga, who was the former deputy whip of the house of representatives.
“I am here to formally inform you, Mr Senate President, that I will be returning to Nigeria to partake in the August 16 bye-election into the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North federal constituency, which was declared vacant after the death of late Hon Onanuga,” the statement quotes Daniel as saying.
“Your excellency, the news out there is that you have been indisposed, but seeing you here now paints a very different picture. Congratulations, your excellency.”
In response, Akpabio expressed his gratitude for Daniel’s visit and his interest in the by-election, stating his confidence that the ruling party would keep the seat.
“With the commitments and support of Governor Dapo Abiodun, your good self and other stakeholders of our party in the state, we will retain the house of representatives seat at the end of the election,” the Senate President said.
He added, “Let me congratulate you in advance, because you have all it takes to retain that federal constituency seat for our great party. You are from there, and interestingly, the governor is also from there, so I don’t harbour any fear.”
Addressing the rumors about his health, Akpabio remarked, “If you listen to the social media, you will go to war.”