RismadarVoice Reporters
September 6, 2026
The Special Adviser to the President of the Senate on Diaspora and NGOs, Dr Jibril Tafida, has dismissed reports suggesting that the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Ekaette Akpabio, gained improper access to the Senate chamber.
Tafida described the report as false, explaining that Mrs Akpabio visited the National Assembly on Saturday to inspect faulty equipment and facilities within the chamber.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, Tafida said the visit followed complaints from senators and National Assembly staff about the poor condition of some facilities and concerns over the quality of work carried out by contractors.
He said the visit was undertaken at the instance of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Tafida also rejected claims that Mrs Akpabio arrived at the chamber with traditional spiritualists or other questionable individuals.
According to him, the people who accompanied her were professionals, including electrical engineers, information and communications technology specialists, audio-visual technicians and building maintenance experts.
He said the team was at the National Assembly to assess reported faults and determine the necessary repairs.
Tafida added that relevant officials were informed about the visit and that no security procedure was violated.
He explained that Saturday was deliberately chosen for the inspection to avoid disrupting plenary proceedings and other legislative activities.
The presidential aide described the report as misinformation and speculative journalism intended to generate controversy where none existed.
He urged members of the public to disregard the report and called on media organisations to verify information before publishing reports involving public officials and their families.
Tafida also defended Mrs Akpabio’s reputation, describing her as a philanthropist known for integrity, while insisting that the Senate President remained focused on his legislative responsibilities.
He said the National Assembly remained secure and properly managed.
When contacted, Tafida declined to comment beyond the statement but maintained that the office of the Senate President would not tolerate what he described as reckless reporting targeted at the family.
