The suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has denied being behind a widely shared audio and video clip claiming she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of blackmailing President Bola Tinubu.
The lawmaker, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said the material is fake and was designed to smear her name and create political unrest.
The audio and video, which surfaced online earlier this week, suggest that Akpoti-Uduaghan told a journalist that Senate President Akpabio used underhanded tactics to pressure President Tinubu into ensuring her imprisonment. The footage quickly gained attention, triggering debates and confusion on social media platforms.
In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan released a statement from Abuja, directly distancing herself from the controversial content. She said the voice in the recording is not hers and believes the material was digitally altered to create false impressions.
“I categorically and unequivocally dissociate myself from this video and audio recording. At no time did I grant such an interview or hold any such conversation with a journalist or anyone else. The voice in the recording is not mine — it has been cloned and manipulated with clear malicious intent,” her statement read in part.
Calling the incident “a calculated attempt to mislead the public,” she stated that the recordings were created with the goal of sowing division in the government and harming her reputation as a public servant.
Akpoti-Uduaghan noted that she has already instructed her legal team and relevant security agencies to track down the source of the false content. She said those responsible must be brought to justice for using technology in such a deceptive way.
She added that the spread of such digital forgeries is dangerous to both individuals and national stability.
“The general public is advised to treat the circulating video and audio as entirely false and misleading. This is the work of desperate individuals intent on smearing the image of a law-abiding, peace-loving public servant,” she stated.
The suspended senator concluded by restating her loyalty to democratic values and urged Nigerians to stay watchful in an age where misinformation can be easily created and spread.
“I remain steadfast in my service to the people and urge Nigerians to remain vigilant against coordinated campaigns of disinformation and digital impersonation aimed at creating unnecessary political tension,” she said.
