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The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President of the Senate, Rt. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, has dismissed as a “desperate and dangerous lie” a viral statement allegedly attributed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, claiming he threatened that Northerners would suffer if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu loses the 2027 presidential election.

Eyiboh said Akpabio “never made such a statement” and challenged those circulating the alleged quotation to produce verifiable evidence showing where, when and before whom the Senate President supposedly made the remark.

In a statement, the aide said there was no authentic video, audio recording, speech, interview, press release, transcript or credible media report establishing that Akpabio uttered the alleged words.

He specifically challenged Engr. Ibrahim Umar Ammar, whom he identified as being associated with the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation and ADC-NYAF in Kano State, to release the original and unedited recording of the purported statement.

«“Produce the original and unedited video or audio recording showing precisely where, when and before whom Senator Akpabio made the alleged statement,” Eyiboh demanded.»

He also asked those behind the allegation to identify the occasion, date and venue where the statement was supposedly made, as well as the journalists or media organisations that allegedly witnessed or reported it.

According to Eyiboh, a photograph of Akpabio with words superimposed beneath it cannot constitute credible evidence.

He described such material as “merely an allegation wearing typography” and urged anyone who merely reposted the claim to disclose its original source and provide the first publication from which it was obtained.

Aide Accuses Critics of Ethnic Incitement

Eyiboh accused those circulating the alleged quotation of deliberately exploiting ethnic sentiments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“This is not legitimate political opposition. It is calculated incitement designed to manufacture fear, resentment and hostility between Northern Nigerians and a national leader from the South,” he said.

The Senate President’s aide argued that Akpabio’s political relationships and legislative record also contradict attempts to portray him as hostile to Northern Nigeria.

He cited Akpabio’s political relationship with Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin of Kano, the presence of Northerners among his aides and his backing for legislative measures targeted at development across Northern communities.

Among the initiatives he highlighted were the establishment of the North-West Development Commission and North-Central Development Commission, as well as the Federal Polytechnic in Rano, Kano State, and the Federal University of Health Sciences in Tsafe, Zamfara State.

Eyiboh also recalled Akpabio’s visit to Borno State following the devastating floods in Maiduguri and the National Assembly’s intervention to support victims.

He said the Senate contributed ₦74 million to the relief effort, while the two chambers of the National Assembly provided a combined ₦174 million.

According to him, the Senate under Akpabio has also supported legislation covering student loans, minimum wage, security, education and economic development, which he said were designed to benefit Nigerians regardless of region.

‘Produce Evidence or Withdraw the Claim’

Eyiboh urged Nigerians to verify the authenticity of politically sensitive claims before sharing them online, stressing that the burden of proof rests with those making the allegation.

“The demand is therefore straightforward and categorical: produce the original video, produce the original audio, produce an authenticated transcript, name the occasion, give the date and venue, and identify the media organisations that witnessed or reported the statement,” he said.

He called on political parties and their supporters to focus on records, policies, achievement

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The Benue State Government has dared the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, to identify the government aide allegedly responsible for mobilising youths to block his convoy from accessing Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Tersoo Kula, threw the challenge while appearing on The Morning Show, an Arise TV programme, on Wednesday.

Kula said the state government was prepared to support an investigation into the incident, insisting that anyone found to have orchestrated the obstruction should face the law.

He said Obi and the NDC should not only name the alleged aide but also provide evidence linking the individual to the incident.

According to him, the police had the responsibility to investigate the allegation and establish those behind the reported blockade.

“The incident was completely unknown to the government until we started seeing pictures of what was happening,” Kula said.

He added, “I challenged them that they should name that aide. They mentioned a particular aide, and we said they should go ahead and mention him. If there’s any evidence, the police commissioner should ensure that the person who directed this is arrested and brought to book.”

The governor’s spokesman maintained that Governor Alia had no reason to deploy youths to frustrate Obi’s movement, arguing that the governor does not support political thuggery.

Kula said if Obi’s visit posed any security or political concern to the governor, the appropriate response would have been to rely on recognised security agencies rather than mobilise youths.

“Governor Alia does not promote thuggery in Benue State. If Obi is a threat to him, or maybe he felt that Obi’s coming would cause a problem for him, the right thing to do is to get legitimate security operatives to do the needful and not to gather youths or send them to go and block him,” he stated.

The controversy followed Obi’s attempt to visit Yelewata, a community in Guma Local Government Area that suffered a deadly attack in June 2025 in which more than 200 people were reportedly killed.

Obi had accused the state government of frustrating his movement to the community after youths reportedly blocked his convoy.

However, the Benue State Government has repeatedly denied having prior knowledge of Obi’s visit.

Kula had earlier said neither Governor Alia nor the state’s security agencies were informed ahead of Obi’s movement to Yelewata.

He argued that as a presidential candidate, Obi should have had adequate security arrangements for his movement, particularly to a community considered sensitive because of its history of violence.

The governor’s spokesman said the police, Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among other security agencies, ought to have been notified ahead of the visit.

“If you are visiting a state, the security apparatus of the state is supposed to know. The Commissioner of Police, Director of DSS, Civil Defence and others are supposed to be aware so that they can provide adequate security for you,” he said.

Kula also questioned how youths could have successfully stopped a presidential candidate if adequate security arrangements had been made for the visit.

He further said Governor Alia had not received any security briefing concerning Obi’s movement to Yelewata.

On the broader security situation in Benue, Kula acknowledged that insecurity remained a serious concern despite describing the situation in the state as having improved to what he called “relative peace.”

He stressed that the fact that other states were experiencing similar security challenges was not an excuse for the Benue government to become complacent.

“What is happening in Benue State in respect to insecurity is happening to other states. It’s not peculiar to Benue,” he said.

“But there is no excuse saying that because it’s happening to other states, we should be comfortable. We are not comfortable.”

Kula said Governor Alia remained concerned about insecurity and was committed to reducing attacks across the state to the barest minimum.

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The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has warned of thunderstorms and rains across different parts of the country between Wednesday and Friday, September 9 – 11.

In its weather outlook released in Abuja on Tuesday (yesterday), the agency said parts of the North could experience morning thunderstorms and light rains on Wednesday, particularly in Taraba and Kebbi states.

It also forecast isolated thunderstorms with moderate rains later in the day across parts of Taraba, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kano and Kaduna states.

“For the North-Central region, thunderstorms accompanied by light rains are expected over parts of Nasarawa, Niger, Benue and the Federal Capital Territory during the morning hours.

“During the afternoon or evening hours, thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rains are expected over most parts of the region,” it said.

In the southern region, NiMet predicted a cloudy atmosphere with chances of morning rains over parts of Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Cross River, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom states.

It said moderate rains were expected over most parts of the region later in the day.

For Thursday, the agency predicted patches of clouds across the northern region, with morning thunderstorms and light rains expected over parts of Jigawa, Kano, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe and Kaduna states.

“Later during the afternoon or evening hours, thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected over Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba states.

“For the North-Central region, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected, with prospects of morning thunderstorms accompanied by light rains over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Plateau, Niger and Benue states.

“Later in the day, thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected over the entire region,” NiMet said.

The agency also forecast light morning rains over parts of Ondo, Ogun, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

It said most parts of the southern region could experience continuous rains later in the day.

NiMet further warned of a high possibility of flooding in parts of Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states during the forecast period.

For Friday, NiMet predicted partly cloudy skies across the northern region, with chances of thunderstorms and moderate rains over Taraba and Adamawa states in the morning.

It said thunderstorms with moderate rains were expected in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Adamawa and Taraba states during the afternoon or evening.

“Sunny skies with patches of clouds are anticipated over the central region, with chances of thunderstorms accompanied by light rains over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger states during the morning hours.

“Later in the day, thunderstorms with moderate rains are anticipated in most parts of the region.

“A cloudy atmosphere is expected over the southern region, with prospects of moderate rains over parts of Ondo, Ebonyi, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states during the morning hours,” it said.

NiMet said moderate rains were also expected over most parts of the southern region later in the day.

The agency warned that strong winds could come before the rains in areas expected to experience thunderstorms.

It urged members of the public to take necessary precautions and secure loose objects to prevent them from being blown away or causing damage.

“The states with the possibility of flash floods should activate the emergency response system immediately.

“Driving under heavy rain should be avoided. Disconnect electrical appliances from electrical sockets.

“Stay away from tall trees to avoid impact from falling branches and broken trees. Airline operators are advised to obtain airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning of their operations.

“Residents are advised to stay informed through weather updates from NiMet,” it said.