Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed claims by suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan that he conspired with former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to assassinate her. Akpoti-Uduaghan made the allegation during a rally in her hometown on April 1, 2025. See Are African Leaders the Biggest Obstacle to Development?
In a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Eseme Eyibo, in Abuja, Akpabio described the accusations as unfounded and entirely false.
The statement read in part: “The Office of the Senate President strongly rejects the baseless, false, and inflammatory claims made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in which she falsely accused Senator Godswill Akpabio of plotting her assassination. During her speech in Kogi State, she irresponsibly alleged that the Senate President enlisted former Governor Yahaya Bello to kill her in Kogi rather than Abuja. This outrageous claim is not only untrue but a dangerous fabrication designed to incite unrest, attract media attention, and tarnish the reputation of the Senate President for hidden motives.”
The statement further noted that Akpoti-Uduaghan had previously made unproven allegations, including a sexual harassment claim against Akpabio, which she later abandoned without explanation. “Having failed to gain support with that narrative, she has now escalated her falsehoods to a defamatory and life-threatening level. Her history of unsubstantiated accusations—including past assassination claims against Yahaya Bello and others in 2019 and 2023, as well as multiple sexual harassment allegations against public figures—reveals a troubling pattern of manipulation and deceit.”
Additionally, the statement addressed remarks made by former Senator Elisha Abbo, who appeared on Arise TV on April 2, 2025, reviving an earlier withdrawn claim that Akpabio influenced the judiciary to remove him from office. “Nigerians may recall that Abbo publicly retracted this accusation in 2023 and apologized after admitting his claims were based on incorrect assumptions. His removal was a judicial decision by the Court of Appeal, which ruled he was not duly elected. His renewed allegation, along with false claims about withheld entitlements, is part of a coordinated smear campaign.”
The statement emphasized that salaries and allowances are processed through official procedures, not at the discretion of the Senate President.
“The timing and nature of these attacks suggest a politically motivated effort to undermine the Senate’s leadership. Senator Akpabio remains committed to national unity, the rule of law, and legislative progress. Legal actions, including demands for public retractions, apologies, and compensation, are being prepared against both Akpoti-Uduaghan and Abbo. We urge the public and the international community to disregard these baseless allegations.”
“Under Akpabio’s leadership, the Senate remains focused on its constitutional duties: upholding democratic values and advancing Nigeria’s development.”
