Senate President Godswill Akpabio has firmly rejected the accusations made by suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who alleged that he enlisted former Governor Yahaya Bello to assassinate her.
Describing the allegation as “false and malicious,” Akpabio issued a public statement through his media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, in Abuja on Friday.
Akpoti-Uduaghan made the explosive accusation during a speech to her supporters in Kogi on Wednesday, alleging that Akpabio had enlisted Bello to carry out the supposed attack in the state. The Kogi State government has since dismissed the claim.
Akpabio vehemently denied the charges, calling them part of a calculated smear campaign designed to damage his reputation.
“This baseless accusation is not just false but a reckless and dangerous attempt to stir public unrest and tarnish the image of the Senate President,” he said.
The Senate President further pointed out that Akpoti-Uduaghan had previously made unsubstantiated allegations of sexual harassment against him, which she later abandoned without explanation.
He argued that her history of making unfounded claims, including those involving assassination attempts, should not be allowed to damage the reputations of others.
Akpabio also addressed former lawmaker Elisha Abbo’s recent claims, in which Abbo accused the Senate President of being responsible for his removal from the National Assembly.
Abbo was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on October 16, 2023. In a recent interview, Abbo claimed that Akpabio was running the Senate like a dictator.
Akpabio suggested that the timing and nature of these allegations were part of a coordinated effort to undermine his leadership.
The Senate President called for both Akpoti-Uduaghan and Abbo to apologize and retract their statements, warning that legal action would follow if they failed to do so.
He also noted that Abbo had already publicly retracted his previous accusation in 2023, acknowledging it was based on incorrect information.
In conclusion, Akpabio confirmed that legal action, including demands for public apologies and compensation for reputational damage, was being prepared against both individuals.
