The Conspiracy Against the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio (GCON) and the South: Northern Politicians and the 2027 Power Struggle
Nigerian politics has, over the years, been fraught with political maneuvering, divisive power struggles, and a plethora of behind-the-scenes conspiracies. One of the most glaring recent examples of this convoluted political landscape is the ongoing attacks on the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON. The accusations leveled against him have revealed the double standards that frequently define Nigerian politics. These actions, particularly against Akpabio, are seen as part of a larger scheme aimed at destabilizing southern leadership as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
The issue came to the forefront with the unsubstantiated sexual harassment allegations against Senator Akpabio. These accusations, currently before the courts, have sparked a series of demands for his resignation. Notably, these calls have come from a faction of northern politicians and civil society groups. The timing of these demands has raised questions about the motivations behind the calls and their potential link to the 2027 power struggle. This article seeks to explore this alleged conspiracy and the double standards involved in the political attacks on Akpabio.
One of the most striking examples of hypocrisy and selective outrage in Nigerian politics involves the 2018 Offa bank robbery. In the aftermath of the robbery, it was revealed that some of the arrested suspects had confessed to being sponsored by Senator Bukola Saraki, the then Senate President. These suspects alleged that Saraki had provided them with financial resources, vehicles, and weapons to carry out their violent operations. Despite these grave allegations, Saraki faced no significant calls from his political allies, northern elites, or civil society organizations to step down from his position.
The Nigerian Police, under the leadership of then-Inspector General Ibrahim Idris, even invited Saraki for questioning. However, no major political or civil society body, including influential figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, called for Saraki’s resignation. Saraki himself vehemently denied the allegations, labeling them as politically motivated. No significant political movement, particularly from the northern political elite, was made to hold him accountable for the serious accusations against him.
Fast forward to 2025, and we see a stark contrast in the treatment of Senator Godswill Akpabio. Despite the fact that Akpabio’s case revolves around an unproven allegation of sexual harassment, northern politicians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki, have joined in the calls for Akpabio’s resignation. The timing and nature of these attacks against Akpabio are strikingly different from the circumstances surrounding Saraki’s tenure as Senate President, raising the question: Why the double standard?
The answer to this question lies in the broader political context surrounding the 2027 general elections. The North has historically maintained a stronghold on Nigeria’s political power. However, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a Southerner, now in power, there is a palpable fear among northern elites that power may not return to the North in 2027. This fear is a driving force behind the current push to weaken southern political influence, with particular focus on high-profile southern leaders such as Akpabio.
The demands for Akpabio’s resignation should, therefore, be understood within the framework of the upcoming power struggle. The North is aware that the balance of power in the country is shifting, and the South is beginning to assert itself more strongly. The ongoing attempts to destabilize the southern leadership are part of a deliberate effort to divide and weaken the South, thus ensuring that the North retains its grip on power in the 2027 elections.
By forcing Akpabio out of office, northern politicians hope to sow division within the southern political bloc. They aim to weaken southern solidarity and disrupt the unity that would allow the South to present a strong challenge in the 2027 elections. This is not merely about a sexual harassment allegation or even Akpabio’s conduct; it is about maintaining northern political dominance and preventing any substantial shift in the political power structure.
The calls for Akpabio’s resignation from prominent northern figures like Atiku Abubakar and Saraki are part of a broader strategy to destabilize the Tinubu administration. By targeting Akpabio, a prominent southern politician who holds one of the highest offices in the country, northern elites aim to delegitimize the South’s position in Nigerian politics. The argument is simple: by undermining Akpabio, they can create a political vacuum, weaken the southern leadership, and prevent the South from presenting a united front in the face of the 2027 elections.
Organizations like the Arewa Youth Forum and other northern groups have joined in the calls for Akpabio’s resignation, portraying him as a liability to the country. These groups claim that Akpabio’s continued stay in office threatens the credibility of the Senate and the integrity of Nigerian politics. However, this outrage is seen by many as selective and politically motivated, especially considering the fact that similar, or even more serious, allegations against northern politicians in the past did not attract similar calls for resignation.
In light of these developments, it is essential for the South to recognize the nature of this orchestrated political attack. The ongoing campaign against Akpabio is not just about holding him accountable for an alleged crime; it is about undermining the South’s ability to lead and shaping the political landscape in favor of northern dominance ahead of the 2027 elections. The South must not allow itself to be divided or weakened by such orchestrated efforts. The calls for Akpabio’s resignation, based on unproven allegations, must be seen for what they are: an attempt to further a sectional agenda.
Akpabio, like any other citizen, deserves the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. The Nigerian political establishment must be held to a standard where all leaders are treated equally under the law, regardless of their region, ethnicity, or political affiliation. If northern politicians, including Saraki, were allowed to remain in office despite serious criminal allegations, then Akpabio should not be pressured to resign over a mere allegation of sexual harassment, which remains unproven.
The South must stand firm in its resolve to resist any attempt to manipulate the political landscape. This is a time for unity and strength, not division. The attacks on Akpabio are part of a broader, calculated strategy to suppress southern leadership, and the South must rise above the divisive tactics employed by northern political players.
It is also important to note that the case of Senator Natasha Akpoti, who recently made an unsubstantiated sexual harassment allegation against Senator Akpabio, has been blown out of proportion by political opponents. While Natasha’s accusation is yet to be substantiated in court, her broader political conduct and disregard for the rules of the Senate are more telling of her motivations than the accusation itself. Her actions, along with the chorus of political attacks against Akpabio, reveal the undercurrent of political manipulation at play.
The situation involving Natasha Akpoti is just one example of how political actors use sensational allegations to further their own agendas. It highlights the lengths to which certain factions are willing to go in their bid to undermine the Southern political establishment. Whether the allegations are true or not is irrelevant to the broader strategy of political destabilization.
In conclusion, the current calls for Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s resignation are not based on any genuine concern for justice or the integrity of the Nigerian Senate. Instead, they are part of a calculated effort to undermine southern political power ahead of the 2027 elections. The double standard exhibited in the handling of similar allegations against northern politicians, particularly Bukola Saraki, exposes the sectional nature of the current political climate.
As Nigerians head into the 2027 elections, the South must recognize the danger posed by these political maneuvers and stand united against them. Akpabio should not be forced to resign over unproven allegations, and the South must resist any attempt to divide or weaken its leadership. For the sake of the country’s democratic progress, justice must be applied equally to all leaders, regardless of region or political affiliation. Only then can Nigeria truly move forward as a unified, democratic nation.
Excerpt from George Udom
THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, DISTINGUISHED SENATOR GODSWILL AKPABIO (GCON) AND THE SOUTH: NORTHERN POLITICIANS AND THE 2027 POWER STRUGGLE.
In Nigerian politics, hypocrisy often takes center stage, exposing the double standards that define the actions of certain political players.
The latest call for Senate President, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON, to step down over an allegation of sexual harassment is a glaring example of this selective outrage, especially when viewed against past events involving northern politicians.
One of the most striking examples of this political double standard was the infamous Offa bank robbery of April 5, 2018.
This tragic incident in Kwara State saw a gang of heavily armed robbers attack five commercial banks and a police station, resulting in the deaths of at least 33 people, including police officers and civilians.
By June 2018, the Nigerian Police Force, led by the then-Inspector General Ibrahim Idris, revealed that some arrested suspects had confessed to being politically sponsored by Senator Bukola Saraki, the then Senate President.
These individuals alleged that they were political thugs working for Saraki and that they had received funding, vehicles and weapons from him.
Despite these grave allegations, Saraki, who was serving as the Senate President at the time, did not face calls from northern elders, civil organization, Serap, opposition party or political stakeholders to step down. Instead, he vehemently denied the accusations, labeling them politically motivated.
There was no widespread pressure from the northern elite, no calls from elder statesmen like former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, nor did the Arewa Youth Forum demand his resignation.
The silence was deafening. Saraki remained in office, fully enjoying the privileges and influence of his position even while he was being invited by the Nigerian Police for interrogation on the robbery incident which he was allegedly accused as the sponsor by the arrested gang members.
Fast forward to 2025, and we see a completely different approach in the case of Godswill Akpabio.
The Senate President, who hails from the South, has been accused of sexual harassment—a matter that is currently in court. Unlike the serious criminal allegations against Saraki, Akpabio’s case remains an allegation without solid proof.
Yet, prominent northern figures, including Atiku Abubakar, and organizations such as the Arewa Youth Forum, are calling for his resignation. Even Saraki himself, who was once protected from stepping down despite serious accusations, has joined the chorus of voices demanding that Akpabio vacate his position.
This begs the question: Why the double standardWhy did the North shield Saraki from scrutiny in 2018 but is now aggressively pushing for Akpabio’s removal over an unproven allegation
The answer lies in the growing political tension ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The North has always maintained a strong grip on political power in Nigeria. However, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a Southerner, currently in power, there is an undeniable fear among northern elites that power may not return to the North in 2027.
The campaign against Akpabio is nothing short of a calculated political maneuver aimed at weakening the South’s leadership and influence before the next elections.
By forcing Akpabio out of office, northern politicians hope to destabilize the ruling structure, creating cracks within the southern political bloc.
This is a classic divide-and-rule strategy designed to ensure that by the time the 2027 elections arrive, the South will be too weakened and divided to pose a strong challenge to northern political dominance.
It is important for the South to recognize this orchestrated political war for what it is—a desperate attempt to undermine Southern leadership.
Akpabio’s case is in court, and like any other citizen, he deserves the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
It is unacceptable for northern politicians to demand his resignation over mere allegations when they did not hold their own to the same standard in the past.
If Nigeria must progress as a truly democratic nation, justice must be served equally. If Saraki was allowed to remain in office despite serious criminal allegations, then Akpabio should not be pressured to step down over an unproven sexual harassment claim.
Anything short of this is clear evidence of sectional politics aimed at suppressing the South as 2027 approaches.
The South must stand united against this conspiracy and resist any attempt to manipulate the political landscape in favor of a particular region.
The days of political intimidation and sectional oppression must come to an end. Akpabio must not step down over mere allegations—justice must be fair, and leadership must not be determined by orchestrated political attacks.
It is imperative to know that what Senator Natasha is facing today has nothing to do with her unsubstantiated sexual harassment allegation she leveled against the President of the Senate, but her uncultured attitude and approach to the rules and orders of the institution she is a member.
It is also important to know that the recent calls from PDP, Northern Elite like the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Senator Bukola Saraki and some northern groups is clear indication that this is a calculated attempt to undermine the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR who is a southerner.
It is high time we all rose and put a stop on this orchestrated political maneuver by the opposition political players.