Akpabio Denies Saying Northerners Will Suffer if Tinubu Loses 2027 Election

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has denied saying that Northerners would be made to suffer between January and May if President Bola Tinubu loses the 2027 presidential election.

 

Akpabio described the statement attributed to him as a “complete fabrication” and challenged those circulating the claim to produce evidence of where and when he allegedly made the remark.

 

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, the Senate President said there was no video, audio recording, speech, interview, press release, transcript or credible news report in which he made the alleged statement.

 

The statement, titled, “Desperate and Dangerous Lie: Produce the Evidence or Withdraw It,” said a photograph bearing the alleged quotation did not constitute evidence.

 

Akpabio challenged the alleged sponsor of the material, Ibrahim Umar Ammar, to produce the original and unedited recording of the statement.

 

“Produce the original and unedited video or audio recording showing precisely where, when and before whom Senator Akpabio made the alleged statement. Name the occasion. Give the date and venue. Provide the complete recording, not a conveniently edited fragment,” he said.

 

He also called on anyone who had reposted the material to identify its original source and provide the publication from which it was obtained.

 

The Senate President said political opposition was legitimate but warned against using fabricated statements to inflame ethnic sentiments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

Akpabio maintained that the 2027 political contest should focus on records, policies, achievements, failures and competing visions for the country rather than fabricated quotations capable of threatening national unity.

 

“This is not legitimate political opposition. It is calculated incitement designed to manufacture fear, resentment and hostility between Northern Nigerians and a national leader from the South,” he said.

 

He cited his political relationships, appointments and legislative activities as evidence of his cooperation with people from different regions, including his working relationship with Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin of Kano State.

 

Akpabio also pointed to legislation establishing the North-West Development Commission and North-Central Development Commission, as well as federal institutions in Kano and Zamfara states, as examples of initiatives he said demonstrated his commitment to national development.

 

The Senate President urged Nigerians to verify politically sensitive claims before sharing them on social media.

 

“A quotation of this gravity cannot be authenticated by repetition, likes, shares or the number of Facebook accounts carrying it,” he said.

 

Akpabio urged political parties and their supporters to ensure that the 2027 election remained “truthful, responsible and Nigerian.”

 

“The North is not an electoral weapon. The South is not an enemy. Ethnicity is not campaign ammunition. And Nigeria’s unity must never become collateral damage in anybody’s campaign for power,” he said.