The Arewa Revival Project has dismissed as fabricated a viral social-media claim attributed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in which he allegedly threatened that Northerners would be made to “suffer from January to May” if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu loses the 2027 election.
The group described the purported statement as false, unverified and politically inflammatory, warning that such content could heighten ethnic and regional tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by its Project Coordinator, Hon. Muttaka Ahmed Ibrahim, the Arewa Revival Project said it had found no credible evidence linking Akpabio to the alleged remark.
The group urged Nigerians, particularly citizens in Northern Nigeria, to exercise caution before accepting or sharing provocative political claims circulating on social media. 
‘Graphic Is Not Proof Akpabio Made Statement’
The Arewa Revival Project stressed that a social-media graphic bearing a politician’s photograph and an alleged quotation cannot, on its own, establish that the person actually made the statement.
It challenged those circulating the claim to produce the full video, date, venue, complete speech or authentic transcript from which the alleged quotation was extracted.
“Until such evidence is produced, Nigerians should treat the claim as an unverified political allegation rather than established fact,” the group said.
The controversy comes amid previous viral claims allegedly portraying Akpabio as making anti-Northern or threatening remarks. The Senate President’s office has previously rejected similar allegations as false and malicious.
Group Cites Akpabio’s Calls for National Unity
The Arewa Revival Project also pointed to Akpabio’s public comments on national cohesion, arguing that his reported positions do not support the inflammatory statement currently circulating online.
The group noted that in June 2026, Akpabio was reported to have stressed that elections would come and go and should not be allowed to threaten Nigeria’s existence or unity.
It said such remarks were more consistent with the Senate President’s publicly expressed position on the need to preserve national cohesion despite political differences.
Arewa Group Commends Akpabio
The group further commended Akpabio for what it described as his efforts to foster cooperation between the Executive and Legislative arms of government.
It also praised his support for policies and legislation aimed at improving the welfare of Nigerians, as well as his engagement with political stakeholders across the country.
The group recalled that in July 2026, Akpabio called for stronger grassroots mobilisation and expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s bid for re-election in 2027.
The Arewa Revival Project said it was therefore unfortunate that an unverified social-media graphic was being presented as an authentic statement capable of creating hostility between Northern and Southern Nigerians.
‘Don’t Let Fake News Divide the North and South’
The organisation urged Northern Nigerians to become more discerning consumers of political information, particularly as the country moves closer to the 2027 elections.
It advised citizens to ask basic verification questions before sharing inflammatory claims, including:
Where and when was the statement made?
Is there a complete video recording?
Who originally recorded or published it?
Has any credible news organisation independently verified the claim?
Has the person quoted confirmed making the statement?
The group warned that political misinformation, especially content framed along ethnic or regional lines, could be exploited to deepen divisions in an already politically charged environment.
‘Political Differences Must Not Become Ethnic Hostility’
The Arewa Revival Project maintained that political disagreement is an essential part of democracy but should not be allowed to degenerate into manufactured ethnic or regional hostility.
It reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful political participation, voter education, national unity and constructive engagement between Northern and Southern Nigeria.
The group called on Nigerians to disregard the alleged Akpabio quotation unless credible evidence emerges to authenticate it.
It also urged political leaders across the country to continue promoting the principles of One Nigeria, stressing that electoral competition should not become a catalyst for ethnic knowledge suspicion or regional hatred.
“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,” the statement said.
