Senate Probes As DSS Invades NASS Over Northern Senators’ Alleged Plot To Impeach Akpabio

The Senate has ordered a probe into a report that men of the Department of State Services (DSS) had taken over the National Assembly on Wednesday morning in a move to stop the impeachment of Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate.

Akpabio, who during plenary on Wednesday, denied the invasion of the National Assembly by the DSS over the alleged impeachment move, asked Senator Shehu Kaka, (APC-Borno Central) led Senate Committee to immediately investigate the matter and report back at plenary in the next twenty- four hours.

Akpabio whose tenure has been marked by controversy since emerging Senate President in 2023 in a subdued voice said, “Sen. Kaka, investigate and report back to us as soon as possible practicable.”

The investigation was launched following reports by a parliamentary paper, Order Paper, which reported that the precinct of the National Assembly appeared like a warzone on Wednesday morning as men of DSS had taken over amidst speculations of an impeachment move against Akpabio.

The Paper reported that operatives of the DSS had taken control of the National Assembly amid allegations of a potential impeachment threat against the Senate President adding, “speculations have swirled that some aggrieved Northern Senators, (allegedly dissatisfied with President Bola Tinubu, are reportedly reviving an earlier attempt to remove Akpabio from office.”

Not leaving anything to chance, Akpabio said, “It has just been brought to my attention by one of us that there is fake news trending on social media that the DSS has surrounded the national assembly with possible impeachment of principal officers.

“There is no limit to social media. We are here sitting down and doing our work very peacefully oblivious of the mischief that is going on behind us.

“This is what we pass through daily. It’s either they use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to inject something to turn it around to drive traffic. I understand that they are being paid by YouTube.

“But I hope the public is aware that this is fake news and that the chamber is very stable and the issue of impeachment does not come in,” Akpabio said.

He thereafter referred the matter to the Senate Committee on Special Duties to report its findings before the Senate within 24 hours.

Since his ascension as Senate President, Akpabio has invited impeachment plots several times blamed chiefly on his utterances and alleged divide and rule in the upper house.

He has however escaped each time due to his strong alliance with the president, who supported his emergence.

The latest report has shaken Akpabio owing to some public statements against his leadership among some senators from the northern part of the country, that he has condoned President Tinubu’s bad leadership and tacit approval of his policies, all of which have failed.