Natasha Akpoti Petitions IGP, Alleges Akpabio Is Using Allies To Damage Her Reputation

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has written a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of orchestrating a deliberate smear campaign against her.

In the petition dated May 15, titled “Petition Against Coordinated Defamation and Cyberbullying by Sponsored Syndicate at the Behest of the President of the Senate – Godswill Akpabio,” Natasha claims Akpabio is “deploying media proxies to publish false and damaging stories” about her online.

Her legal counsel, Ehiogie West-Idahosa, said multiple online platforms released nearly identical reports on May 10, accusing the senator of funding terrorism, being involved in killings in Kogi Central, and trafficking illegal arms.

The senator believes these stories were deliberately timed and widely shared to suggest a centrally planned attack on her reputation.

“These publications were not only identical in content but also strategically timed and syndicated across various platforms in a manner that clearly suggests a centrally coordinated attack,” Ehiogie West-Idahosa, counsel to the senator, wrote in the petition.

She described the allegations as “baseless, malicious, and defamatory,” a emphasizing that the report is a treat to her safety, her family, and her political career.

According to her, the goal is to discredit her as a senator and potentially set her up for politically motivated probes or legal battles.

Natasha Akpoti said this wasn’t the first time she had been targeted. She recalled similar attacks during the 2023 Kogi governorship race, where she ran under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In the petition, she called on the police IG to investigate the media platforms involved, as well as Akpabio’s alleged role in the matter.

“I respectfully request that your esteemed office investigate this matter thoroughly and bring to justice all individuals and organizations involved in this coordinated defamation campaign.

“It is imperative that those who misuse their positions of power to intimidate and malign others are held accountable,” the petition reads.

The senator also asked for protection, saying the terrorism allegations have put her at greater personal risk.

“This pattern of cyberbullying and political blackmail must not be allowed to continue unchecked. It poses a grave threat to democracy, free speech, and the integrity of our institutions,” she wrote.

When contacted by for comment, Akpabio’s media adviser, Eseme Eyiboh, said he hadn’t seen the petition and couldn’t respond to what he hadn’t read.

“How do you want me to respond to a petition I haven’t seen? You have seen the petition, but I have not seen it,” Eyiboh told TheCable.

KanyiDaily recalls that Godswill Akpabio recently asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to order Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to take down a satirical apology she posted on social media.