IN SHORT: By tradition, the wife of the president of Nigeria’s senate becomes the president of the senator’s wives association of Nigeria. Online claims that Godswill Akpabio created an office for his wife at the national assembly are false, his office said.
Has the president of the Nigerian senate, Godswill Akpabio, created an office in the national assembly for his wife, Ekaette Unoma Akpabio?
That’s the claim that has been circulating on Facebook, including here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
Some of the links referred to an online report by the online Sahara Reporters on 1 October 2023.
Nigeria’s national assembly consists of the senate or upper chamber with 109 members and the house of representatives with 360 members.
The senate’s role includes confirming the president’s nominations including those for the cabinet, the judiciary and constitutional institutions.
Akpabio was elected as Nigeria’s 10th senate president in the February 2023 national assembly elections.
One of the posts in questions begins: “UPROAR @ NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AS SENATE PRESIDENT, AKPABIO CREATES OFFICE FOR WIFE.”
It reads: “ Senate President Godswill Akpabio is again in the eye of the storm for creating an office for his wife, Ekaette Unoma Akpabio.”
Did this happen? We checked.
Senate leader refutes allegations
All members of the senate were elected. Mrs Akpabio didn’t contest in the national assembly elections.
In the history of Nigeria so far there hasn’t been an office at the national assembly created for the wife of the senate president.
In a statement, Eseme Eyiboh, a media aide to Akpabio, described the claims as an attempt to defame the senate leader.
The statement reads in part: “For emphasis to the unguarded who may be prone to the fake news merchandise, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Akpabio has no office in the National Assembly and there is no intention towards that.”
Eyiboh said Mrs Akpabio’s connection to the national assembly stemmed from her husband’s position, and in keeping with tradition, this made her the president of the senators' wives association of Nigeria.
Republish our content for free
For publishers: what to do if your post is rated false
A fact-checker has rated your Facebook or Instagram post as “false”, “altered”, “partly false” or “missing context”. This could have serious consequences. What do you do?
Click on our guide for the steps you should follow.
Publishers guideAfrica Check teams up with Facebook
Africa Check is a partner in Meta's third-party fact-checking programme to help stop the spread of false information on social media.
The content we rate as “false” will be downgraded on Facebook and Instagram. This means fewer people will see it.
You can also help identify false information on Facebook. This guide explains how.
Add new comment