BY AHMED AKANBI
The Arewa Revival Project (ARP) has thrown its weight behind the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, debunking a viral social media graphic that claimed he threatened that Northerners will suffer if President Bola Tinubu loses the 2027 general elections.
The group described the quote – “We will make sure Northerners suffer from January to May if Tinubu loses the election” – as fake, misleading and politically irresponsible.
In a statement signed by its Project Coordinator, Hon Muttaka Ahmed Ibrahim, on Thursday, ARP said there’s no credible evidence that Akpabio ever made such a statement.
It recalled that earlier this year, the Office of the Senate President had also denied similar viral allegations portraying Akpabio as making anti-Northern remarks, describing them as false and malicious.
“A photograph of a public official accompanied by quotation marks does not, by itself, prove that the person uttered the words attributed to him,” the group said.
It challenged those behind the viral post to produce the full video recording, date, venue, complete speech or authentic transcript where Akpabio made the alleged threat.
Until such evidence is produced, ARP urged Nigerians to treat the claim as an unverified political allegation and not as established fact.
The group said available reports rather show Akpabio preaching national unity and warning against allowing political differences to undermine the country.
It cited his statement in June 2026 that elections would come and go and should not become the end of Nigeria.
The group commended Akpabio for promoting cooperation between the Executive and Legislature and for advocating policies intended to improve the lives of Nigerians, noting that his political activities transcend a single region.
It added that Akpabio has consistently mobilised support for Tinubu across the country, including his call in July 2026 for intensified grassroots mobilisation for the president’s re-election, and said it was unfortunate that an unverified graphic was being used to pitch North against South.
Warning Northerners not to fall victim to political misinformation ahead of 2027, the group urged Nigerians to disregard the quote unless authenticated.
“Nigeria belongs to all of us. The North belongs in Nigeria, the South belongs in Nigeria, and together we must protect the unity and democratic future of our country,” it stated.