Arewa Group Debunks Viral Anti-North Quote Attributed to Akpabio

The Arewa Revival Project has dismissed as fabricated a viral social-media graphic alleging that Senate President Godswill Akpabio said Northerners would be made to suffer if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu loses the 2027 election.

The group, in a statement signed by its Project Coordinator, Hon. Muttaka Ahmed Ibrahim, described the alleged statement as “false, misleading and politically irresponsible,” urging Nigerians, particularly those in Northern Nigeria, not to allow unverified social-media content to create tension between regions.

The Arewa Revival Project said it had found no credible evidence linking Akpabio to the alleged statement, noting that the Office of the President of the Senate had previously denied similar viral allegations portraying the Senate President as making anti-Northern or threatening remarks.

The group stressed that a photograph of a public official accompanied by quotation marks does not constitute proof that the person made the statement attributed to him.

It challenged those circulating the graphic to produce the full video, date, venue, complete speech or authentic transcript from which the alleged quotation was extracted.

“Until such evidence is produced, Nigerians should treat the claim as an unverified political allegation, rather than established fact,” the group said.

According to the organisation, available reports indicate that Akpabio has publicly emphasised national unity and cautioned Nigerians against allowing political differences to undermine the country.

It cited a statement attributed to the Senate President in June 2026 that elections would come and go and should not become the end of Nigeria.

Group Commends Akpabio

The Arewa Revival Project also commended Akpabio for what it described as his efforts to promote cooperation between the Executive and Legislative arms of government and his advocacy of policies and legislation aimed at improving the lives of Nigerians.

It noted that the Senate President’s political engagements had extended beyond his South-South base, including his interactions with political stakeholders across the country and his support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

The group therefore described the circulation of the alleged quotation as unfortunate, warning that presenting an unverified graphic as an authentic statement could fuel unnecessary ethnic and regional suspicion.

‘Northern Nigeria Must Not Become Victim of Misinformation’

The organisation urged Northern Nigerians to scrutinise inflammatory political content before sharing it, particularly as the country moves towards the 2027 general elections.

It advised citizens to establish where and when an alleged statement was made, whether a complete video exists, who originally recorded or published it, whether credible media organisations have independently verified it and whether the person concerned has confirmed making the statement.

The Arewa Revival Project said political disagreements were legitimate in a democracy but warned that deliberate attempts to manufacture ethnic and regional hostility could undermine Nigeria’s democratic development.

It reaffirmed its support for peaceful political participation, voter education, national unity and constructive engagement between Northern and Southern Nigeria.

The group called on Nigerians to disregard the viral quotation unless credible evidence emerges to authenticate it, while urging Akpabio and other national leaders to continue promoting national cohesion.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us. The North belongs in Nigeria, the South belongs in Nigeria, and together we must protect the unity and democratic future of our country,” the statement said.