Senate President Godswill Akpabio has publicly addressed circulating reports about his health following widespread claims that he collapsed and was flown out of the country for medical treatment.
The Senate President dispelled the rumours by appearing at plenary and sharing photographs showing him actively presiding over Senate proceedings.
The claims, which spread rapidly across social media platforms, suggested that Akpabio suffered a medical emergency earlier in the month and was secretly taken to London aboard a private jet.
In an apparent response to the speculation, Akpabio released photos on his verified X account showing him in the Senate chamber, engaging with lawmakers during plenary.
The images were taken during Tuesday’s session, where the Senate carried out key legislative duties.
“Today, Tuesday, December 16, 2025, I presided over Plenary, where Ambassadorial nominees from President Bola Tinubu were screened and confirmed,” he wrote.
The development appeared to put to rest claims that the Senate President was incapacitated or receiving treatment abroad.
His appearance at plenary was widely interpreted as a direct rebuttal of the reports alleging that he had collapsed and was flown to London in a private aircraft.
Meanwhile, the Senate has formally stepped into the matter, describing the reports as dangerous and capable of misleading the public.
The upper legislative chamber called on the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to immediately investigate the origin and spread of the rumours.
The Senate also directed the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, to work closely with the NSA to carry out a thorough investigation aimed at identifying those responsible for the false reports.
The decision followed a point of order raised by Senator Titus Zam, who cited Order 42 of the Senate Standing Orders. The lawmaker expressed deep concern that such reports were allowed to circulate unchecked for several days.
Senator Zam described the claims as “alarming and unacceptable,” noting that the Senate President occupies a sensitive national position and should not be subjected to unverified and misleading narratives.
He warned that the spread of such information could undermine public confidence and national stability.
Zam further condemned reports suggesting that Akpabio was rushed to a hospital in London after suffering a health emergency, describing the claims as “fake, irresponsible and capable of misleading the public.”
The senator urged security agencies to trace the source of the rumours and ensure that those behind them are prosecuted in line with the law, stressing that accountability would discourage similar incidents in the future.
