Why Akpabio’s Wife Visited Senate Chamber, Aide Explains

The Special Adviser to the President of the Senate on Diaspora and NGOs, Dr Jibril Tafida, has explained why Mrs Ekaette Akpabio visited the Senate chamber.

Tafida dismissed reports that the wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio gained improper access to the chamber during the visit.

He described as false claims by an online platform that Mrs Akpabio had “unholy access” to the Senate chamber.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, Tafida said she visited the National Assembly to inspect faulty equipment and facilities.

He explained that the visit followed complaints from senators and staff about poor facilities and substandard work by contractors.

According to him, the Senate President requested the inspection to help identify the problems affecting the chamber.

Tafida said the visit took place on a Saturday to avoid disrupting plenary and other legislative activities.

He also rejected claims that Mrs Akpabio arrived with marabouts or other questionable individuals.

Instead, he said she came with professionals who could assess the reported faults.

“The people with her were engineers and technicians,” Tafida said.

He identified them as electrical, ICT, audio-visual and building maintenance experts.

Tafida also said relevant National Assembly officials knew about the visit and that no security procedure was breached.

He accused the online publication of spreading misinformation and creating controversy where none existed.

The presidential aide urged media organisations, journalists, bloggers and content creators to verify information before publishing reports.

He particularly called on Naijanewsdirect and other platforms to fact-check reports involving public officials and their families.

Tafida said responsible journalism should protect public trust by relying on verified information rather than speculation.

He also praised Mrs Akpabio for her philanthropic activities and described her as a woman of integrity.

According to him, the Senate President remains focused on his legislative responsibilities despite the controversy.

Tafida said Akpabio would not allow what he called unfounded allegations against his family to distract him.

He also assured Nigerians that the National Assembly remains secure and properly managed.

When contacted, Tafida declined to comment beyond the statement.

He, however, maintained that the Senate President’s office would not tolerate what he described as reckless journalism targeting the family.