The Nigerian Senate has asked the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to investigate social media rumours suggesting that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had collapsed or even died.
The directive followed a point of order raised under Order 42 by Senator Titus Zam, who described the rumours as “disturbing and unacceptable,” stressing that the nation’s third-ranking official should not be subjected to false reports.
Akpabio, while responding, acknowledged the difficulty in controlling online narratives, noting that people cannot be stopped from posting what he described as “garbage in, garbage out.” He sought clarification on whether the Senate intended for the NSA to formally investigate the matter.
The motion was put to a voice vote and adopted, instructing the NSA to probe both the origin and motive behind the rumours concerning the Senate President’s alleged ill health.
This is not the first time Akpabio has faced speculation about his health. In August, rumours circulated that he was hospitalised following a brief vacation in London. Upon his return, he dismissed the reports, confirming that he was in good health.
