In a viral video, Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Nigerian Senate, was accused by Garus Gololo of making divisive remarks against Northerners in advance of the 2027 general elections. Akpabio rejected the film as untrue and misleading.
Gololo allegedly stated in the video that Akpabio threatened to force Northerners to leave Nigeria or vote for President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
However, the Senate President’s office refuted the accusation in a statement, claiming that Akpabio had never made such a claim.
Jibril Lawal Tafida, the Senate President’s Special Advisor on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations, made the announcement.
According to Tafida, the assertion is untrue, spiteful, and has the potential to incite needless conflict in the nation.
He claimed that the accusation was an intentional attempt to mislead the public and damage the Senate President’s reputation.
“We want to make it very evident that the Senate President never said anything like that. This assertion is wholly untrue, spiteful, and a purposeful attempt to deceive the public, according to the statement.
Tafida insisted that the assertion ascribed to Akpabio did not represent his opinions or public behavior, urging Nigerians to ignore the widely shared video.
He claims that the Senate President is still dedicated to maintaining national unity and would refrain from making remarks that could cause Nigerians to become divided along ethnic or regional lines.
Additionally, Tafida urged security services to look into Gololo and determine the origin of the accusation.
He requested that Gololo present proof of Akpabio’s purported statement’s location and time.
“The public ought to be informed about the origin of these unfounded accusations,” he declared.
The Senate President’s assistant also called on Nigerians in the North and elsewhere to oppose what he called reckless and aggressive behavior meant to incite discontent among the populace.
He cautioned that unsubstantiated assertions, particularly those pertaining to national unity and ethnicity, could escalate political tensions if they are not investigated.
Northern Group Makes an IGP Petition
In the meantime, the Northern Democratic Front has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, requesting Gololo’s detention and an inquiry into the purportedly defamatory comments made against Akpabio.
Barrister Bitrus Yohana, the group’s national secretary, and Engr. Musa Abba, its national president, signed the petition.
The group claimed that the accusation might endanger national harmony and cause public unrest.
The NDF claims that because of the viral claim’s potential to sow discord amongst political blocs and regions in advance of the 2027 elections, it should not be taken lightly.
A group claims to have defamed
Gololo was also charged by the NDF with insulting the Senate President with derogatory and obscene remarks.
The alleged behavior was seen as an attempt to harm Akpabio’s reputation and disrespectful to the position of the country’s third-ranking citizen.
The group called on the Nigeria Police Force to look into the allegations and, should Gololo be found guilty, bring charges against him.
It stated that he should be looked into for alleged criminal defamation, disseminating misleading information, and actions that could disturb public order.
The organization also stated that truth, moderation, and accountability should be the guiding principles of public debate, particularly at a time when political activity ahead of 2027 is starting to pick up steam.
