A coalition of civil society organizations called the Nigeria Integrity Watch (NIW) has accused some women of being camped in a luxurious hotel in Lagos State with the intent to blackmail Senate President Godswill Akpabio by fabricating sexual harassment allegations against him. NIW’s National Convener, Dr. John Samuel Nangi, described this as a "campaign of calumny."
According to the coalition, these women are being coached and guided by alleged blackmailers to create false damaging narratives targeting Akpabio. NIW claims that a powerful appointee in the All Progressives Congress (APC) government and a disgraced former senator are behind this plot. The organization also alleges that a network of online content creators, social media influencers, and bloggers is being mobilized to spread misinformation and propaganda to undermine Akpabio’s reputation, as well as the credibility of the Senate and Nigerian government.
The coalition has appealed to security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to be vigilant, monitor the situation closely, and take necessary actions to prevent any attempt to destabilize Nigeria’s democratic institutions through falsehoods.
Dr. Nangi emphasized that this is not just an attack on Akpabio personally but a broader assault on Nigeria’s democracy, urging unity against attempts to undermine the nation's leadership through deceit and manipulation.
This allegation comes amid ongoing controversies surrounding Akpabio, who has faced prior sexual harassment claims by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, which Akpabio has denied and legally contested in court.