Akpabio Rejects Claim He Asked Northerners To Back Tinubu Or Leave Nigeria

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has denied allegations that he asked Northerners to either vote for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections or leave the country.

The denial followed a viral video in which Garus Gololo allegedly claimed that Akpabio made divisive remarks targeting Northerners ahead of the next general elections.

Reacting to the allegation, the Senate President’s office described the claim as false, malicious and misleading, insisting that Akpabio never made such a statement.

The clarification was contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, Jibril Lawal Tafida.

According to Tafida, the allegation was deliberately fabricated to misinform the public and tarnish the image of the Senate President.

“We wish to state clearly and unequivocally that the President of the Senate never made such a statement. This claim is completely false, malicious, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public,” the statement read.

He urged Nigerians to ignore the viral video, stressing that the comments attributed to Akpabio do not represent his beliefs or public conduct.

Tafida further stated that the Senate President remains committed to national unity and would never make comments capable of causing ethnic or regional division in the country.

He also called on security agencies to investigate the origin of the allegation and asked Gololo to provide proof of where and when the alleged statement was made.

“The public deserves to know the source of these baseless allegations,” he added.

The Senate President’s aide warned against spreading unverified claims capable of heating up the political atmosphere, especially as activities ahead of the 2027 elections continue to gather momentum.

Meanwhile, the Northern Democratic Front (NDF) has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, demanding the arrest and investigation of Gololo over the alleged defamatory comments against Akpabio.

The petition, signed by the group’s National President, Engr. Musa Abba, and National Secretary, Barrister Bitrus Yohana, argued that the allegation could incite tension and threaten national peace.

The group also accused Gololo of using offensive language against the Senate President and attempting to damage his reputation.

The NDF urged the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the matter thoroughly and prosecute him if found guilty of criminal defamation, spreading false information, and conduct likely to disrupt public peace.

According to the group, political discussions ahead of the 2027 elections should be guided by truth, responsibility and restraint to avoid creating unnecessary divisions among Nigerians.