{
  "id": 6449214,
  "title": "Akpabio petitions DSS over anti-North statement",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/akpabio-petitions-dss-over-anti-north-statement-6449214",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T17:56:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/akpabio-petitions-dss-over-anti-north-statement/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, recently petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) over what he claimed was an anti-North statement, circulated on social media platforms. His Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, informed journalists in Abuja about the complaint filed by Akpabio’s Chief of Staff, Chinedu Akubueze. The petition urged the DSS to urgently investigate the creation and dissemination of a \"manifestly false, inflammatory and dangerously divisive statement\" attributed to Akpabio. The problematic graphic, carrying Akpabio's photograph and the alleged quote, \"Northerners, You Will Be The Ones To Suffer The Most, If You Allow Tinubu To Lose The Election,\" lacks any verifiable source, publisher's mark, or authentication. The petition argues that the fabrication was intended to incite regional resentment against Akpabio and portray him as threatening the people of Northern Nigeria. Initial investigations identified some of the earliest amplifiers of the graphic on Facebook, including Peter Obi’s convoy blockage in Benue, Tinubu's expression of sorrow over media aide's death, and other notable stories. The petition listed Abdullai Musa and Uzoma Chilaka as persons of interest in relation to the alleged fabrication, without presuming their guilt. The emergence of this petition coincides with increased political activities in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections, as politicians and political parties utilize social media platforms to mobilize supporters and promote their campaigns.",
  "summary": "Senate President Godswill Akpabio petitions the DSS to investigate a fake anti-North statement attributed to him and circulated on social media platforms. Read More: https://punchng.com/akpabio-petitions-dss-over-anti-north-statement/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Akpabio petitions DSS over anti-North statement",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/akpabio-petitions-dss-over-anti-north-statement",
        "published": "2026-09-09T17:40:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "This Day",
        "title": "Akpabio Petitions DSS Over Alleged Anti-North Statement",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/akpabio-petitions-dss-over-alleged-anti-north-statement",
        "published": "2026-09-09T18:24:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "Akpabio petitions DSS over alleged anti-Northern statement",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/akpabio-petitions-dss-over-alleged-anti-northern-statement",
        "published": "2026-09-09T19:40:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}