Akpabio’s Aide Repudiates Health Rumours, Says Senate President Fit, Active

The media aide to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has dismissed the health claims spreading across social media saying Akpabio is in good health and continues to carry out his official duties.

Kenny Okolugbo, Consultant on Communications and Strategy to the Senate President, refuted the claims during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Thursday, describing the reports as unfounded and misleading.

According to Okolugbo, Akpabio has remained visible in the discharge of his responsibilities, a fact he said should put the rumours to rest.

“The Senate President is very healthy. You saw him; he’s been attending sessions, and that answers the question,” he said.

He noted that the situation reflects a growing trend of misinformation on social media, recalling similar rumours previously spread about the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

“Even Minister Wike was affected by similar rumours. One day they said he was in a coma or had suffered a stroke, and the next day he was commissioning projects and appeared on a live programme,” Okolugbo added.

The communications consultant warned that the ease with which false information is shared online poses serious risks, calling for stricter regulation of social media platforms.

“We must regulate social media. Everybody’s a publisher online, but they don’t seem to understand that the law prohibits sharing information you are not sure of,” he said.

The clarification comes after SaharaReporters, on Monday, alleged that Akpabio had collapsed and was flown to London on a private jet for medical treatment.

The report further claimed that the Senate President’s absence from public engagements, including the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper interactive session held on Wednesday, was linked to the alleged health issue.