The All Progressives Congress (APC) Media Network in Akwa Ibom has hit back at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over allegations that Senate President Godswill Akpabio was responsible for the petition and widespread circulation of fraud and money laundering claims against his successor, former Governor Udom Emmanuel.
Emmanuel was interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday following allegations of money laundering, fund diversion, and theft leveled against him by the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT).
In response, the PDP, through a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, accused Akpabio of orchestrating the investigation and fueling the media reports to tarnish Emmanuel’s reputation.
Ologunagba stated, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alerts of plots by Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio to smear the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, in a desperate but failed attempt to discredit the PDP.”
However, Otuekong Iniobong John, Director General of the APC Media Network, dismissed the claims in a statement on Saturday, arguing that Akpabio was preoccupied with legislative responsibilities and had no hand in spreading news about Emmanuel’s EFCC invitation.
John emphasized that the EFCC’s primary mandate is to investigate and prosecute financial crimes, making it unfounded to attribute Emmanuel’s investigation to any political smear campaign. He challenged the PDP to first acknowledge that Emmanuel was indeed invited by the EFCC before pointing fingers.
He further questioned, “Is Senator Akpabio also responsible for the EFCC’s investigation of former Governors Yahaya Bello and Ifeanyi Okowa? This accusation only exposes the naivety, cluelessness, and pettiness of the PDP’s factional National Publicity Secretary.”
The APC Media Network DG also cautioned against ethnic narratives being used to frame Emmanuel’s ordeal, pointing out that a prominent PDP chieftain in the state, Chief Ndueso Essien, had already exonerated Akpabio of any involvement.
“We categorically state that Senator Godswill Akpabio, as the Senate President, has no business disseminating news about former Governor Udom Emmanuel’s EFCC invitation. His focus remains on legislative duties, not political distractions.”
John further criticized the PDP’s statement as a politically motivated attempt to mislead the public and tarnish Akpabio’s reputation.
“It is unfortunate that the factional PDP spokesperson resorted to baseless and malicious claims. Their press release was clearly orchestrated and sponsored by the PDP-led government in Akwa Ibom.”
He also condemned what he described as “shameless propaganda” from tribal elements trying to link Akpabio to the petition against Emmanuel, reiterating that even PDP elder Rt. Hon. Chief Ndueso Essien had clarified Akpabio’s non-involvement.
“The APC Media Network denounces this desperate attempt by the PDP to manipulate public opinion. We urge Nigerians to see through this cheap propaganda and hold the PDP accountable for its misleading narratives,” he concluded.
