The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday directed the Committee on Special Duties to investigate reports of an alleged invasion of the National Assembly by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) amid speculations of an impeachment move against key principal officers.
Akpabio, who issued the directive during plenary, denied the allegations, describing them as “fake news” intended to mislead the public.
He assigned Senator Shehu Kaka, Chairman of the Special Duties Committee, to carry out the probe and submit a report within 24 hours.
Addressing the matter, Akpabio lamented the growing influence of misinformation on social media.
“There is no limit to what online publications can do. This is total fake news. The issue of impeachment against principal officers never came up, and we are all here in the National Assembly without any controversy,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President also criticized the use of artificial intelligence in generating misleading news to attract traffic.
“I learned that with just a click, AI can generate trending news, and the traffic for this fake news must be massive by now,” he remarked.
Earlier in the day, social media platforms were flooded with reports that DSS operatives had taken control of the National Assembly, allegedly to contain a brewing impeachment plot against Akpabio and other key officers.
The reports claimed that some aggrieved Northern Senators, dissatisfied with the performance of President Bola Tinubu, were behind the purported impeachment attempt.
Some posts alleged that DSS operatives, dressed in dark suits and wearing intimidating sunglasses, were stationed at the main entrance and all access points within the National Assembly complex.
Akpabio dismissed these claims, stating that most Senators were actively participating in legislative proceedings when the rumors began circulating.
He reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to transparency by tasking the Committee on Special Duties to investigate the matter and submit findings promptly.
The Senate’s investigation aims to address concerns about misinformation and ensure the integrity of legislative operations amid heightened political tensions.
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