Daniel Otera
Claims of a fallout between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele have been dismissed by the upper chamber as “baseless fabrications.”
Senator Yemi Adaramodu, who chairs the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, issued a statement on Sunday clarifying that no clash occurred during the executive session reportedly convened to decide on the legislature’s annual recess.
“There was no altercation, no face-off, and no leadership crisis,” Adaramodu said. “What happened was a normal, healthy debate exactly what any functional parliament should do.”
He described the reports as “a deliberate distortion” of routine parliamentary engagement and insisted that robust discussions must not be mistaken for internal conflict.
“Across the world, parliaments run on open debates, interjections, and questions. It is the foundation of democracy. Our Senate is no different,” he added.
The senator also explained that it is standard practice for members to voice different opinions when sensitive national matters are tabled.
“Every bill, every motion, every national issue that comes before us is subjected to rigorous scrutiny. The diversity of views shows maturity, not division,” Adaramodu said.
He stressed that the Senate remains united under the leadership of Akpabio and Bamidele and urged the public to ignore sensational media narratives suggesting otherwise.
“Let’s be clear. Parliamentary debate is not a shouting match. It is part of governance. Trying to twist it into a crisis is both misleading and unfair,” he said.
The rebuttal follows days of media speculation over an alleged heated exchange between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele during a closed-door executive session.
Sahara Reporters had claimed that both men engaged in a “shouting match” over the Senate’s proposed annual recess and leadership style, with tensions nearly escalating into a physical confrontation. According to the report, the session, which was meant to foster internal dialogue, reportedly turned tense when Senator Bamidele openly disagreed with Akpabio’s approach.
Daily Trust also reported friction between the two leaders, noting that Akpabio’s unilateral announcement of the recess had caused disquiet among senators who felt sidelined.
However, Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu dismissed the reports as “a deliberate distortion,” insisting the session was a normal parliamentary discussion, not a crisis.