Akpabio Vs In-Law: You Can’t Say Tinubu Is The One Bombing, Killing People, Using Boko Haram-Eyiboh

Pat Akpabio, sister-in-law to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has reignited controversy over unresolved killings in Akwa Ibom State during Mr. Akpabio’s tenure as governor.

According to Premium Times, in a Facebook video posted on October 11, Pat, a pastor and businesswoman married to the Senate President’s brother, Ibanga Akpabio, accused him of being responsible for several deaths and declared that “it will never be well” with him.

Ibanga, who once played a key role in launching Mr. Akpabio’s political career in 1999, later benefited from his brother’s rise, becoming PDP secretary in the state. However, their once-powerful family influence, dubbed the “Ukana Ikot Ntuen Cabal,” began to wane after Akpabio’s second term ended in 2015.

Family divisions deepened during the 2023 elections, when Ibanga backed Akpabio’s opponent, Emmanuel Enoidem, while another relative, Emem Akpabio, supported YPP candidate Bassey Albert.

Sources told PREMIUM TIMES that greed and rivalry have torn the family apart. Pat’s recent video continues her public criticism of the Senate President, vowing to challenge him for the Akwa Ibom North-West Senate seat in 2027.

In response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, through his spokesperson Eseme Eyiboh, said that Pat Akpabio should have reported her allegations to the appropriate security agencies instead of making them public on Facebook.

Eyiboh explained that matters involving murder fall within the country’s criminal justice system, adding that any citizen with knowledge of such crimes should responsibly report them to the relevant authorities for investigation. He cautioned against using murder accusations as a tool for political vendetta, stressing that the law requires anyone making an allegation to provide proof.

A reporter from Premium Times reminded Mr. Eyiboh that during Mr. Akpabio’s time as governor, there were many unsolved murders in Akwa Ibom. Some people had even blamed his administration for those killings.

He “You’re aware that the challenge of insecurity is not only in Akwa Ibom, it’s national, it’s global.

“You cannot say that Tinubu is the person who is bombing, killing people, using Boko Haram and gunmen.

“You cannot say so, because it’s his government.

“It’ll also be unfair, and uncharitable to say that insecurity, or people were killed during Akpabio’s administration.

“And of course, you know that the insecurity problem is mostly out of this aboriginal question, we have an increase in cult-related activities and drugs.”