Nigerian Senators Declare No Vacancy for Godswill Akpabio

Senators Tahir Monguno and Cyril Fasuyi publicly endorsed Godswill Akpabio for a second term as Senate President during a plenary session on Thursday. Senator Monguno declared that there is no vacancy for the position in the 11th National Assembly, a motion that Senator Fasuyi formally supported. Akpabio polled the chamber, receiving an audible response of support from senators with no opposing voices recorded. While these endorsements signal strong internal backing, the leadership of the 11th National Assembly will be formally decided through elections following the 2027 general elections.

The show of support followed a controversy surrounding the Suicide Prevention Bill 2026. Akpabio defended himself against accusations that he denigrated Muslims during a Tuesday debate regarding the motivations behind suicide. He urged the media and the public to avoid politically motivated misinterpretations of legislative discussions, stating that terrorists do not represent any specific religion.