Senate President Godswill Akpabio has petitioned the Department of State Services over an alleged anti-Northern statement purportedly attributed to him and circulated on Facebook and other digital platforms.
Akpabio, through his Chief of Staff, Chinedu Akubueze, urged the DSS to investigate what he described as a false and divisive statement designed to portray him as threatening the people of Northern Nigeria.
The petition was made available to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday by Akpabio’s Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom.
The disputed graphic, which carries Akpabio’s photograph and official designation, attributes to him the statement: “Northerners, You Will Be The Ones To Suffer The Most, If You Allow Tinubu To Lose The Election.”
However, the Senate President, through the petition, denied making the statement, saying there was no evidence to authenticate the purported quotation.
“Akpabio did not make this statement. No date, venue, speech, interview, video, audio recordings, official statement or credible news report has been produced to authenticate it,” the petition stated.
Akubueze said the graphic bore no identifiable publisher’s mark or verifiable source, alleging that it appeared to have been deliberately manufactured and presented as an authentic quotation.
He further alleged that the fabrication was intended to deceive the public, provoke regional resentment against Akpabio and portray him as hostile to Northern Nigerians.
The petition identified some individuals whose social media accounts allegedly amplified the graphic, including Abdullai Musa, who reportedly posted it in a Facebook group, and Uzoma Chilaka, who allegedly reproduced the graphic alongside commentary.
A verified Facebook account belonging to Ibrahim Umar Ammar was also listed as having subsequently shared the graphic and similar commentary.
However, Akpabio’s office cautioned against presuming the identified individuals guilty, describing them as persons of interest who could assist investigators in tracing the origin and distribution of the alleged fake statement.
“These persons should not be presumed guilty before investigation. Nevertheless, their early and substantial roles in circulating the material make them material persons of interest,” the petition said.
It urged the DSS to investigate the publication records, devices, communications and provenance of the graphic to establish its source and determine those behind its creation and dissemination.
The petition comes amid heightened political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, with political actors increasingly relying on social media platforms for mobilisation and campaign messaging.
Akpabio, who represents Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, is a prominent figure in the President Bola Tinubu administration and has featured prominently in political debates ahead of the 2027 elections.
