A previously made statement by Senate President Godswill Akpabio has resurfaced online amid an ongoing wave of defections in the Nigerian Senate, sparking allegations of double standards and political inconsistency.

The statement, traced back to November 2016 when Akpabio was a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emphatically declared that any senator who defects from the party on which they were elected should automatically lose their seat. At the time, Akpabio criticized the defection of Senator Yele Omogunwa to the APC, calling it unconstitutional and denouncing what he termed “political rascality.”

Fast forward to 2025, Akpabio now Senate President and a prominent figure in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing backlash for allegedly enabling similar defections from the PDP to the APC without enforcing the same constitutional interpretation he once championed.

In recent weeks, the Senate has seen multiple defections, including all three PDP senators from Kebbi State Adamu Aliero, Yahaya Abdullahi, and Garba Maidoki—who crossed over to the APC after meeting with President Bola Tinubu. Earlier in February, Delta North senator Ned Nwoko also joined the APC.

Despite these developments, Akpabio has taken no public steps to challenge the defections or push for the affected senators to vacate their seats, prompting accusations of hypocrisy. Critics argue that his current inaction contradicts his 2016 position and undermines democratic integrity.

This perceived inconsistency led PDP senators to stage a walkout in protest during a recent Senate session. Senator Abba Moro, speaking on behalf of the group, urged the Senate leadership to respect constitutional provisions and stop what he described as “legislative banditry.” He called on Akpabio to stand by the principles he once upheld and ensure that party mandates are respected.

The reemergence of Akpabio’s 2016 Facebook post has intensified public scrutiny, with many Nigerians questioning whether his stance on constitutional issues is genuine or politically convenient.