Senate President Godswill Akpabio has returned to Nigeria after what his team described as a brief stopover in London.
He arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, around 4:00 a.m. on Monday, where lawmakers, aides, and supporters received him at the presidential wing.
His return comes after days of speculation on social media alleging that he had been critically ill and hospitalised abroad.
Speaking to journalists shortly after landing, Akpabio dismissed the rumours.
“There’s nothing like such. I’m fit as a fiddle. I only stopped over in London for a short vacation,” he said, describing the claims as the “imagination of the purveyors” and urging Nigerians not to be misled by unverified reports.
Before his stop in the United Kingdom, the Senate President had attended the sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva, Switzerland, held from July 29 to 31. He explained that Nigeria’s delegation contributed significantly to calls for stronger democratic institutions and deeper cooperation among global parliaments.
“I’m back and ready to work. We promise robust legislative engagements when the Senate resumes from recess,” Akpabio assured, adding that the 10th National Assembly would prioritise people-driven laws and oversight duties.
Some lawmakers also backed his statement, dismissing claims of ill-health. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Gbenga Daniel, who met him in London, remarked:
“Your excellency, the news out there is that you have been indisposed, but seeing you here now paints a very different picture. Congratulations, your excellency.”