Senate President Godswill Akpabio has formally dissociated himself from a rally scheduled to take place in Akwa Ibom State on April 4, purportedly being organized in his honor by a group known as the Progressive Peoples’ Resolution (PPR).
The group, led by Ubong Idemudo, had reportedly circulated information about a planned demonstration allegedly aimed at showing support for the Senate President.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, Akpabio categorically denied any knowledge or involvement in the event.
“The Senate President is unaware of any such rally and did not authorize or endorse it,” Udom said. “He urges his supporters and residents of Akwa Ibom State to go about their normal activities and to disregard the rally entirely.”
According to the statement, intelligence gathered by Akpabio’s team indicates that the event is being orchestrated by “fifth columnists” — individuals allegedly seeking to exploit the Senate President’s name for “ulterior and devilish motives.”
READ ALSO: For Akpabio, a word should be enough for the wise
“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,” the statement reads.
Akpabio expressed grave concerns about the motives behind the planned gathering and called on security agencies to intervene swiftly.
He described the event as “satanic”, warning that it could lead to unrest or misrepresent his political intentions.
“The police and other security agencies in the state are by this statement directed to ensure that such satanic rally is not allowed to hold, as such has no approval of the Senate President,” Udom added.
The Senate President’s warning comes amid rising political tensions and attempts by fringe groups to hijack prominent political figures’ identities to legitimize unauthorized activities.
Observers say Akpabio’s firm stance is a clear attempt to distance himself from actions that could undermine his office or destabilize his home state.
As of press time, neither the organizers of the PPR nor the Akwa Ibom State Police Command had issued an official response.