Akpabio family feud deepens as sister-in-law accuses Senate President of involvement in killings

Akpabio family feud deepens as sister-in-law accuses Senate President of involvement in killings

A fresh storm is brewing within the family of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, following a scathing social media outburst by his sister-in-law, Pastor Pat Akpabio.

In a viral Facebook video posted on October 11, Pat accused the former Akwa Ibom State governor of complicity in several unresolved killings that occurred during and after his tenure.

“For all the people you have killed when you were governor and those killed now that you are in the Senate, it will never be well with you,” she said in the emotional outburst directed at the Senate President.

Pat, a pastor and businesswoman, is married to Mr. Akpabio’s younger brother, Ibanga Akpabio, who is widely credited with introducing the Senate President to Akwa Ibom politics in the late 1990s. Ibanga reportedly facilitated his brother’s appointment as a commissioner under then-Governor Victor Attah—a political launchpad that eventually made Godswill Akpabio governor in 2007 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

During his years in power, Akpabio’s family members, including Ibanga, wielded immense influence in the state’s political and economic circles. They were often referred to as the Ukana Ikot Ntuen Cabal, named after the family’s hometown in Essien Udim Local Government Area.

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However, the once-powerful family has since fractured.

Tensions reportedly worsened after Ibanga and other relatives backed Akpabio’s rivals during the 2023 elections.

In her latest tirade, Pat accused the Senate President of betrayal, ingratitude, and political manipulation.

She vowed to challenge him in the 2027 senatorial election, describing him as a man “unworthy of the people’s trust.”

“When you finish, go home. This is your quit notice. Nigerians don’t know who you are. When they do, they’ll know you are a very wicked man,” she said, urging President Bola Tinubu to be cautious in dealing with him.

Pat also alleged that Akpabio accused her husband of murder and theft of campaign funds after his 2019 senatorial defeat. “I stood by you in 2019 when everyone turned against you. Did I collect 10 kobo from you?” she asked, challenging him to publicly respond to her claims.

Akpabio’s Response

Reacting through his spokesperson, Eseme Eyiboh, the Senate President dismissed the allegations as “baseless political vendetta.”

“Killing is a serious offence under our criminal laws. Any citizen who truly has evidence should report to law enforcement agencies rather than make social media accusations,” Eyiboh said on Monday.

He described Akpabio as “a humble and family-oriented man” whose busy schedule does not allow him to engage in domestic disputes. “She is simply seeking attention. The Senate President is too busy for that,” he added.

When reminded of persistent allegations of politically motivated killings during Akpabio’s administration, Eyiboh argued that insecurity in the state was part of a broader national challenge.

“You can’t say that President Tinubu is the one bombing people because insecurity exists under his administration.”

Akpabio family feud deepens as sister-in-law accuses Senate President of involvement in killings