The President of the 10th Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday, dissociated himself from a solidarity rally allegedly being organized in his honor in his hometown of Akwa Ibom. In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media Matters, Jackson Udom, Akpabio clarified that he was unaware of the rally and urged the public to disregard any such event.
The press release, titled “Disregard Any Rally in Akwa Ibom purported to be in support of Senate President Godswill Akpabio,” strongly emphasized that the rally had no approval from the Senate President. According to Akpabio, the rally, set to take place on April 4, was being spearheaded by a group named the Progressive Peoples’ Resolution, allegedly led by one Ubong Idemudo, a figure known for controversy.
Akpabio warned that the rally may have ulterior motives and urged the people of Akwa Ibom and his supporters to stay clear of the event. He further stated that he did not know the organizers, and the rally was a potential ploy to manipulate his name for sinister purposes.
“The planned rally, from information pieced together, is the handiwork of fifth columnists trying to use the name of the Senate President to achieve their devilish goal,” Akpabio said in the statement. He also called on security agencies to take swift action to prevent the rally from taking place, underscoring that it lacked the Senate President’s endorsement.
As a result, the police and other security agencies in Akwa Ibom State were instructed to prevent the rally, as it was deemed unauthorized and could cause unrest.
Akpabio’s call for security intervention reflects his concern over the possibility of misusing his position for personal or political gains by those behind the rally.
