Pat Akpabio, a sister-in-law to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has reignited controversy over unresolved killings allegedly linked to Akwa Ibom politics during his time as governor.
In a fiery Facebook video posted on October 11, Pat accused the Senate President of betrayal and vowed to unseat him in the 2027 senatorial election.
According to Premium Times, she stated, “For all the people you people have killed when you were the governor (of Akwa Ibom) and those you people have killed now that you are in the Senate, it will never be well with you.”
Once regarded as the political backbone of Akpabio’s rise, his extended family was seen as the “Ukana Ikot Ntuen Cabal,” wielding enormous power and influence in Akwa Ibom. Many relatives, including Ibanga Akpabio, rose to prominence and wealth under his administration between 2007 and 2015.
But divisions within the family became evident in 2023, when Ibanga supported Akpabio’s opponent, Emmanuel Enoidem, in the senatorial race for Akwa Ibom North-West. Another family leader, Emem Akpabio, also backed Bassey Albert of the YPP during the governorship race.
Several insiders now say the once-powerful family has “completely disintegrated,” blaming greed and selfishness for the cracks.
Pat, in her latest outburst, accused Akpabio of turning against those who once stood by him. She listed Umana Okon Umana, a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs; Nsima Ekere, an APC governorship candidate; Akan Udofia, another APC governorship candidate; and Bassey Albert of the YPP, as some of the politicians she claimed Akpabio betrayed.
She said, “Akpabio forgets easily the good things people have done for him. In 2027, if he contests again, he will be disgraced.”
Godswill Akpabio, who governed Akwa Ibom between 2007 and 2015 under the PDP, later defected to the APC. Though he lost his senatorial re-election bid in 2019, he returned in 2023 to clinch the Akwa Ibom North-West seat and was elected Senate President.
Pat, however, insists his political dominance is nearing its end, saying she is determined to challenge his hold on the state.
“When you finish, go home. This is your quit notice. Go home and rest; you need to take care of yourself.
“Nigerians don’t know who you are. When they do, they’ll know you are a very wicked man,” she said, advising President Bola Tinubu to be wary of Mr Akpabio.
Pat said Mr Akpabio’s hometown of Ukana Ikot Ntuen has been without power supply for several weeks, suggesting that Mr Akpabio, a ranking federal official, has not brought much development to his community.
She claimed that Mr Akpabio accused her husband, Ibanga, of killing a close political associate and causing him (Akpabio) to lose the 2019 senatorial election. She also claimed that Mr Akpabio accused her husband of running away with his money.
Pat added, “You know I love you. I don’t hate you. I love you because you are a brother to my husband. I stood by you in 2019 when people wrote all sorts of things against you, did I collect 10 kobo from you? Today, you have the audacity to say that you are the one that made me.”
She dared Mr Akpabio to respond to her allegations and threatened to release more damaging information about the Senate president.
