Akpabio petitions DSS over anti-North statement

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has filed a petition with the Department of State Services (DSS) over what he claims is an anti-Northern statement falsely attributed to him. The statement, which was allegedly circulated on social media, suggested that Northern regions would suffer the most if Bola Tinubu lost the upcoming election.

Akpabio's media team, including his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, and Chief of Staff, Chinedu Akubueze, submitted the petition to the DSS. They argue that the graphic featuring Akpabio's photograph and the quoted statement lacks any credible source or publisher's mark, indicating it was deliberately fabricated to provoke regional tensions.

The petition also highlights early traceable amplifiers of the graphic on Facebook, including accounts held by Abdullai Musa and Uzoma Chilaka. While the identified individuals are described as "persons of interest," Akpabio's office warns against presuming guilt before investigation and urges authorities to investigate their roles in tracing the statement's origin and distribution.

The petition comes as politicians and parties intensify their use of social media ahead of the 2027 general elections.