2023 Senate Presidency: Omo-Agege Denies Plot Against Akpabio, Calls Allegation Cheap Lie

Former Deputy President of the 9th Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has dismissed allegations that he instructed Senator Ede Dafinone to vote against Senator Godswill Akpabio during the 2023 election of principal officers of the 10th Senate.

Omo-Agege described the allegation as a “cheap and mischievous fabrication,” insisting that he never directed Dafinone or any other senator to oppose Akpabio during the contest for the Senate presidency.

The former deputy senate president made his position known in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Strategy and Communications, Godwin Anaughe, who said the allegation had circulated for a long time without any factual basis.

According to the statement, Omo-Agege initially ignored the claim because he considered it unreasonable and misleading. However, he decided to respond after an individual identified as Ejiro Etaghene reportedly repeated the allegation during appearances on Crown FM and Kpoko FM.

Anaughe maintained that Omo-Agege openly supported Akpabio in accordance with the position of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the time, stressing that he had no reason to instruct Dafinone to vote against the party’s preferred candidate.

The statement further alleged that Dafinone had privately assured Omo-Agege of his intention to support Akpabio but secretly attended meetings organised by Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, who contested against Akpabio for the Senate presidency.

It also claimed that the alleged political disagreement was not caused by Omo-Agege but by Dafinone’s own decisions and actions during the period.

Anaughe further disclosed that Vice President Kashim Shettima had personally intervened by asking Omo-Agege to advise both senators to support the party’s position ahead of the 2023 Senate leadership election.

The statement accused Dafinone of attempting to shift responsibility for his alleged voting decision by associating Omo-Agege with the controversy. It also questioned why the senator had not publicly addressed the allegation himself.

Omo-Agege’s aide insisted that the former deputy senate president had supported Akpabio and respected the collective decision of the party, adding that he should not be blamed for any political choices allegedly made by Dafinone.

The statement concluded by challenging Dafinone to publicly confirm or deny the allegation that he voted for Yari on Omo-Agege’s instructions.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Omo-Agege’s response has brought renewed attention to the political disagreements surrounding the 2023 election of the 10th Senate leadership, with the former deputy senate president maintaining that he had no involvement in any attempt to undermine Akpabio.