Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Friday, strongly refuted a claim made by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, that he enlisted former Governor Yahaya Bello to orchestrate her assassination, calling the allegation “false and malicious.”
The clarification came in a statement issued in Abuja by Akpabio’s media aide, Eseme Eyiboh.
Akpoti-Uduaghan made the accusation on Wednesday while addressing her supporters in Kogi, alleging that the Senate President sought Bello’s help to “assassinate her in Kogi State rather than in Abuja.” This claim has since been categorically denied by the Kogi State government.
In his response, Akpabio rejected the accusation outright, describing it as a baseless attempt to tarnish his reputation and damage public trust in his leadership. He stated, “This outrageous allegation is not only entirely false but also a complete fabrication. It is a deeply irresponsible and dangerous attempt to incite public unrest, attract media attention, and discredit both my person and the office of the Senate President for ulterior motives.”
Akpabio further emphasized that Akpoti-Uduaghan had previously leveled unsubstantiated claims against him, including an accusation of sexual harassment, which she later abandoned without explanation. “Having failed to gain traction with that narrative, she has now escalated her campaign of misinformation to an even more defamatory level,” he added.
The Senate President reminded the public that Akpoti-Uduaghan had made similar allegations of assassination against Governor Yahaya Bello and others in the past, specifically in 2019 and 2023, along with numerous unfounded sexual harassment accusations against other dignitaries. “Her ongoing pattern of persecution and fabrication should not be weaponized to harm individuals or destroy reputations,” Akpabio said.
Akpabio also addressed accusations made by former Adamawa North Senator Elisha Abbo, who had publicly blamed the Senate President for his removal from the National Assembly. Abbo was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in Abuja on October 16, 2023.
Speaking on a live television program on Wednesday, Abbo had claimed that Akpabio was responsible for his ouster and accused the Senate President of running the Senate like an “emperor.”
Akpabio strongly rejected these claims, suggesting that both allegations—one from Akpoti-Uduaghan and the other from Abbo—were part of a coordinated smear campaign. “The timing and tone of these attacks suggest a deliberate effort to undermine my leadership and the integrity of the Senate,” Akpabio remarked. “These individuals, possibly backed by undisclosed interests, appear to be launching a politically motivated campaign to deflect from their own personal and political failures.”
The Senate President reiterated that Abbo had previously retracted similar claims in 2023, offering a public apology after acknowledging that his accusations were based on incorrect assumptions. “Abbo’s removal was the result of a legitimate judicial process, where the Court of Appeal independently determined that he was not duly elected to represent Adamawa North.”
Akpabio concluded by announcing that formal letters demanding public retractions, apologies, and compensation for reputational harm would be sent to both Akpoti-Uduaghan and Abbo. “Senator Godswill Akpabio remains resolute in his commitment to justice. Should these demands go unmet, legal redress will be pursued,” the statement read.
