Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo, who was recently sacked by the Court of Appeal as the representative of Adamawa Northern Senatorial District, has tendered an apology to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, whom he had earlier accused of masterminding his removal from the 10th Senate.
Abbo, who was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), lost his seat to Rev. Amos Yohanna Kumai of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following a ruling by the appellate court on Monday.
The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw Abbo’s Certificate of Return and issue it to Kumai.
In a press statement issued after his sack, Abbo had alleged that Akpabio was behind the nullification of his election because he (Abbo) had opposed his emergence as the Senate President.
He also claimed that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC Abia North) was the next target for elimination from the Senate.
However, Akpabio had denied any involvement in Abbo’s ordeal, describing his allegation as unfortunate and baseless. He said he had no reason to plot against Abbo or any other senator.
On Tuesday, Abbo appeared on Arise News Television’s News Night and retracted his accusation against Akpabio. He said he had spoken with the Senate President and was convinced that he was not involved in his sack. He said he had acted on wrong information and apologised to Akpabio for tarnishing his image.
He said, “I have to say this with all sense of humility and responsibility, that the press release that we rendered yesterday (Monday) was premature and based on the available information in our disposal yesterday.
“But as of today, we have discovered a lot of things yesterday and yesterday night I also had a discussion with the Senate President, my brother, my colleague, Senator Akpabio and I am convinced that he is not involved.
“This is because we met yesterday and let me go by his word, ‘Senator Abbo, I swear on my mother’s grave that I am not involved in this. I don’t even know you are in the court’.
“For number three citizen to come up to tell me that he has sworn on his mother’s grave, a woman that he loves so much and a woman brought him up after he lost his father at the age of six, I don’t see a reason why he will lie.
“Today (Tuesday), the addition intelligence trickled in and we have abundant information. So, this morning after our discussion with the Senate President yesterday, I apologised to him yesterday.
“It is only honourable, virtuous that when something is wrong, you have to clear his name and yes, we acted on this in error because of available information in our disposal yesterday (Monday), Mr President, my distinguished brother and friend, I am sorry, you are not involved.
“I believe every word you said because I know how much you value your mother.”
Abbo expressed his hope that Akpabio would forgive him and accept his apology. He also said he would appeal the court’s decision that sacked him from the Senate.