By Henry Umoru
ABUJA — 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”, challenging those circulating the claim to produce evidence of where and when he allegedly made the statement.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. 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 remark.
The statement was titled, “Desperate and Dangerous Lie: Produce the Evidence or Withdraw It.”
Akpabio said a photograph bearing the alleged quotation was not evidence of the statement, describing it as “an allegation wearing typography.”
He challenged the alleged sponsor of the material, Engr. Ibrahim Umar Ammar, whom he said was identified on his verified Facebook profile as being associated with the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation and Coordinator of ADC-NYAF, Kano State, to produce the original evidence.
“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.
The Senate President also called on anyone who claimed to have merely reposted the material to identify its original source and provide the publication from which it was obtained.
He said political opposition was legitimate but warned against what he described as the use of fabricated statements to inflame ethnic sentiments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Akpabio said the 2027 political contest should be based on records, policies, achievements, failures and competing visions for the country rather than what he described as 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 argued that his political relationships, appointments and legislative activities contradicted the allegation that he was hostile towards the North.
Akpabio noted that several Northerners served in his office and cited his working relationship with Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin of Kano State, as evidence of his political cooperation across regional lines.
He also pointed to legislation establishing the North-West Development Commission and the North-Central Development Commission, as well as federal institutions in Kano and Zamfara states, as examples of initiatives he said demonstrated his commitment to development across the country.
The Senate President further recalled his visit to Borno State following devastating floods in Maiduguri and the financial intervention by the National Assembly to assist victims.
He said the Senate had also supported legislation on student loans, minimum wage, security, education and economic development, arguing that such measures benefited Nigerians irrespective of their region.
Akpabio urged Nigerians to verify the source of 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.
He maintained that the burden of proof rested on those alleging that he made the statement, insisting that he could not reasonably be expected to prove that he did not make an unidentified statement at an unspecified place and time.
The Senate President urged political parties and their supporters to ensure that the 2027 contest remained “truthful, responsible and Nigerian”.
“Let the 2027 contest be vigorous. Let political parties interrogate records, challenge policies, expose failures, defend achievements and present competing visions for Nigeria,” he said.
“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.”
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