Akpabio Accuses Oshiomhole of Eyeing Senate Presidency Seat

A widely circulated political commentary published Wednesday accused All Progressives Congress chieftain Adams Oshiomhole of pursuing a strategic agenda to replace Senate President Godswill Akpabio by positioning himself for the Senate leadership following the 2027 elections, framing their recent public disputes as a deliberate campaign to undermine Akpabio’s political standing.

The analysis, published by Legit.ng’s Ololade Olatimehin, argued that Oshiomhole’s criticism of Akpabio, including his earlier call for the Senate President’s resignation over a rule amendment controversy, reflected more than principled disagreement. The commentary suggested Oshiomhole was positioning himself as a national APC spokesman whose profile and visibility would translate into influence over the composition of a post-2027 Senate leadership.

Dispute Goes Beyond a Rule Amendment

Oshiomhole and Akpabio have clashed repeatedly in 2026, beginning with the Senate rules amendment controversy and extending to Oshiomhole’s broader commentary on the performance of the Tinubu administration, of which Akpabio is a key ally. Political insiders said the disputes reflected a deeper competition within the APC between the old guard of former governors who helped build the party’s national coalition and the current crop of legislators and ministers installed under Tinubu.

Akpabio’s Presidency has not publicly responded to the commentary’s specific thesis. However, the Senate President’s allies dismissed characterisations of Oshiomhole as a kingmaker in waiting, saying his influence within the party had waned significantly since his time as APC national chairman. They noted that Akpabio had successfully steered the most consequential legislative session of the year, passing the state police bill with no opposition, as evidence of his institutional authority.

APC Leadership Battles Shape 2027

Furthermore, the commentary fits into a broader pattern of speculation about post-2027 APC leadership, with multiple senior figures jockeying for influence over who controls the Senate, the House speakership, and the party’s national executive structure. Notably, the passage of the state police bill gave Akpabio a significant legislative achievement to point to in any future leadership competition. Consequently, the Oshiomhole-Akpabio dynamic will be closely watched as a barometer of factional alignments within the APC heading into the 2027 party primaries.