Akpabio demands retractions, apologies from Natasha Akpoti, Abbo

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has described as “baseless, false, and inflammatory” allegations made against him by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Elisha Abbo.

Akpoti-Uduaghan represents Kogi central in the senate while Abbo is a former senator who represented Adamawa north.

In a statement on Friday, Eseme Eyiboh, special adviser on media and publicity to the senate president, said formal letters demanding public retractions, apologies, and compensation for reputational damage are being prepared for both individuals.

Eyiboh described the allegations made by Akpoti-Uduaghan at a recent rally in Kogi as “a complete fabrication” and “a dangerous attempt to provoke unrest and attract undue media attention”.

“It is important to remind the public that this same individual had previously made an unsubstantiated accusation of sexual harassment against Senator Akpabio — a claim she seem to have abandoned without explanation,” Eyiboh said.

“Having failed to gain traction with that narrative, she has now escalated her campaign of misinformation to a deadly and defamatory dimension.”

‘REMOVAL FROM SENATE’

Speaking on ‘Prime Time’, an Arise TV programme, Abbo claimed that Akpabio orchestrated his removal from the senate.

“He told me that five senators would be removed. I asked how he knew, and he said, ‘I am the senate president. I know’. True to his words, five of us were removed. I had no idea that I was one of them,” he said.

Eyiboh said Abbo had retracted that same accusation in 2023, admitting it was based on incorrect assumptions.

“His removal from office was the outcome of a constitutionally grounded judicial decision by the Court of Appeal, which independently determined that he was not duly elected to represent Adamawa North,” the statement reads.

“In a further twist, Mr. Abbo also alleged that he was denied his entitlements by the Senate President. This, too, is categorically false. Entitlements such as salaries and allowances are processed strictly through administrative and legal procedures.

“The Senate President does not and cannot unilaterally approve or deny such requests. Any delays or rejections would have been based solely on due diligence and compliance with established protocols.”

The statement described the allegations as part of a “coordinated and politically motivated smear campaign” aimed at undermining the senate leadership.

“Senator Godswill Akpabio remains undeterred. As a statesman devoted to national unity, institutional integrity, and the rule of law, he will not be distracted by malicious falsehoods or inflammatory rhetoric,” the statement added.

“Regardless of the necessity for legal redress, 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.”