Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has strongly refuted claims made by the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who accused him of seeking the help of former Governor Yahaya Bello to assassinate her.
In a statement issued on Friday, Akpabio’s media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, described the allegations as “false and malicious.”
The accusation was made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a public address to her supporters in Kogi on Wednesday, where she claimed that Akpabio sought to have her killed in Kogi State, instead of in Abuja. The Kogi State government has since denied the claims.
Reacting to the allegation, Akpabio said the accusation was “a complete fabrication” and accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of engaging in a “deliberate smear campaign” to tarnish his reputation.
He stated, “This outrageous accusation is not only false but a complete fabrication and deeply irresponsible and dangerous attempt to provoke public unrest, attract media attention, and discredit the person and office of the President of the Senate for ulterior motives.”
Akpabio further reminded the public of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s previous unsubstantiated claim of sexual harassment against him, which she later abandoned without explanation. He added, “Having failed to gain traction with that narrative, she has now escalated her campaign of misinformation to a defamatory dimension.”
The Senate President also referred to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s past allegations of assassination against Yahaya Bello and others in 2019 and 2023, describing her as someone with a “recurring persecution narrative.”
Additionally, Akpabio addressed the claims made by former lawmaker Elisha Abbo, who accused him of orchestrating his removal from the National Assembly. Abbo was sacked by the Court of Appeal on October 16, 2023, a decision Akpabio clarified as “the outcome of a constitutionally grounded judicial decision.”
Akpabio expressed his belief that the timing of the allegations against him suggested a coordinated smear campaign aimed at undermining the Senate and its leadership. “The timing, tone, and striking similarity of these coordinated attacks point clearly to a politically motivated smear campaign,” he said.
Akpabio has now demanded apologies and retractions from both Akpoti-Uduaghan and Abbo to avoid pursuing legal action. He concluded, “Formal letters of demand, seeking immediate public retractions, apologies, and compensation for reputational harm, are underway to be served on both Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Mr Elisha Abbo.”
