Akpabio, Natasha silent over activist’s fresh allegation

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan have not commented on a new allegation made by US-based activist Sandra Duru, also known as Prof Mgbeke, that Akpabio hired her to criticize Senator Kogi Central Senatorial District. The claim surfaced in a lengthy audio recording that went viral on social media.

This statement contradicts Duru's earlier claim that Akpoti-Uduaghan had tried to recruit her to make negative statements about Akpabio. In the latest recording, Duru alleged that a male voice supposedly identified as Akpabio discussed political matters, including the decision of former Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa to join the All Progressives Congress.

The authenticity of the recording and the identities of the voices involved could not be confirmed. Efforts to obtain responses from Akpabio's media aide and Akpoti-Uduaghan's camp were unsuccessful. This new allegation adds to a long-standing dispute between the two political figures.