Akpabio Never Said Northerners Will Suffer’ — Senate President’s Aide Demands Proof

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President of the Senate, Rt. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, has dismissed as a “desperate and dangerous lie” a statement circulating on social media allegedly attributed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, threatening that Northerners would suffer if President Bola Tinubu loses the 2027 election.

Eyiboh, in a statement on said Akpabio “never made such a statement,” challenging those circulating the alleged quotation to produce verifiable evidence of where and when it was made.

According to him, there is no video, audio recording, speech, interview, press release, transcript or credible media report establishing that Akpabio uttered the alleged words.

He particularly challenged Engr. Ibrahim Umar Ammar, whom he identified as being associated with the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation and ADC-NYAF in Kano State, to produce the original and unedited recording of the alleged statement.

“Produce the original and unedited video or audio recording showing precisely where, when and before whom Senator Akpabio made the alleged statement,” Eyiboh said.

He also demanded the identification of the occasion, date, venue, journalists and media organisations that allegedly witnessed or reported the statement.

Eyiboh argued that a photograph with words superimposed beneath it could not constitute evidence, describing it as “merely an allegation wearing typography.”

He said anyone claiming to have merely reposted the material should disclose the source from which it was obtained and provide the original publication to establish the chain of dissemination.

The Senate President’s aide further accused those behind the alleged quotation of attempting to inflame ethnic sentiments ahead of the 2027 general election.

“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.

Eyiboh maintained that Akpabio’s political relationships and public record contradicted the portrayal of the Senate President as hostile to Northern Nigeria.

He cited Akpabio’s political alliance with Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin of Kano, the presence of Northerners among his aides and his support for legislation targeted at development in Northern communities.

Among the legislative measures highlighted were the establishment of the North-West Development Commission, North-Central Development Commission, Federal Polytechnic in Rano, Kano State, and Federal University of Health Sciences in Tsafe, Zamfara State.
Eyiboh also recalled Akpabio’s visit to Borno State following devastating floods in Maiduguri and the National Assembly’s intervention to assist victims.

He said the Senate contributed ₦74 million to the relief effort, while the two chambers provided a combined ₦174 million.

According to him, the Senate under Akpabio has also supported legislation on student loans, minimum wage, security, education and economic development, measures he said benefit Nigerians irrespective of region.

Eyiboh urged Nigerians not to circulate the alleged quotation without first establishing its authenticity, stressing that the burden of proof lies with those making the allegation.

“The demand is therefore straightforward and categorical: produce the original video, produce the original audio, produce an authenticated transcript, name the occasion, give the date and venue, and identify the media organisations that witnessed or reported the statement,” he said.

He called on political parties and their supporters to focus on records, policies, achievements and competing visions ahead of 2027 rather than exploiting ethnic divisions.

“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,” Eyiboh said.

He concluded with a categorical demand to those behind the alleged statement: “Produce the evidence or withdraw the lie.”