Senate President Godswill Akpabio has petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) over a purported statement circulating online in which he was allegedly quoted as making remarks against people from Northern Nigeria.
The petition, signed by Akpabio’s Chief of Staff, Chinedu Akubueze, called on the security agency to investigate the alleged creation and coordinated distribution of the statement on Facebook and other digital platforms.
According to the petition, a graphic bearing Akpabio’s photograph and his designation as Senate President attributed a statement to him suggesting that Northerners would suffer if President Bola Tinubu lost the 2027 presidential election.
Akpabio’s office has categorically denied that the Senate President made the statement, saying no speech, interview, video, audio recording, official statement or credible news report had been presented to authenticate the alleged remark.
The petition further alleged that the graphic did not carry an identifiable publisher’s mark or verifiable source. It described the material as an apparent fabrication capable of misleading the public, provoking regional resentment and creating the impression that Akpabio had threatened Nigerians from the North.
Akpabio’s office also drew the attention of the DSS to individuals it said were among the earliest traceable amplifiers of the graphic on Facebook.
Those identified included Abdullai Musa, who allegedly shared the material in a Facebook group, and Uzoma Chilaka, whose post reportedly reproduced the graphic alongside commentary attributed to other individuals. A verified Facebook account belonging to Ibrahim Umar Ammar was also referenced in the petition.
However, the petition stressed that the individuals mentioned should not be regarded as guilty before an investigation is conducted.
Instead, Akpabio’s office described them as persons of interest whose activities could potentially assist investigators in tracing the origin of the graphic, its designer, original uploader, sponsors and distribution network.
The petition asked that relevant publication records, devices, communications and the provenance of the graphic be examined in accordance with the law.
The development comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with social media increasingly becoming a major platform for political messaging and the circulation of campaign-related claims.
Akpabio, who represents Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, is one of the prominent figures in the administration of President Tinubu and has remained active in political discussions surrounding the next general election.
The DSS is expected to determine the origin and circumstances surrounding the circulation of the disputed material if it proceeds with the requested investigation.
