Pat Akpabio, sister-in-law to senate president Godswill Akpabio, has reignited controversy over a series of unresolved killings that took place in Akw
Pat Akpabio, sister-in-law to senate president Godswill Akpabio, has reignited controversy over a series of unresolved killings that took place in Akwa Ibom state during Akpabio’s tenure as governor.
In a Facebook video posted on October 11, Pat, visibly enraged, accused the senate president of complicity in the deaths.
“For all the people you killed when you were governor of Akwa Ibom, and those you’ve killed now as a senator, it will never be well with you,” she said.
Pat Akpabio, a pastor and businesswoman, is married to Ibanga Akpabio, the senate president’s younger brother, who is widely credited with introducing Godswill Akpabio to Akwa Ibom politics around 1999.
Ibanga played a key role in facilitating his brother’s appointment as a commissioner under then-governor Victor Attah, a position that launched Akpabio’s political rise to becoming governor in 2007 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
At the height of Akpabio’s power, his relatives, including Ibanga, gained significant political influence in the state.
The family became known as the Ukana Ikot Ntuen Cabal, named after Akpabio’s hometown in Essien Udim local government area, and many members were said to have acquired sudden wealth and political prominence.
However, their influence began to wane after Akpabio completed his second term in 2015.
Internal cracks deepened in 2023 when Ibanga openly backed Akpabio’s rival, Emmanuel Enoidem, in the Akwa Ibom north-west senatorial race, a contest Akpabio eventually won before emerging as senate president.
Another family member, Emem Akpabio, known as “The godfather,” led the governorship campaign of Young Progressives Party (YPP) candidate Bassey Albert that same year.
The family feud is said to have grown worse since then.
Sources close to the Akpabios describe a complete breakdown of unity, blaming greed, rivalry, and the pursuit of power for the rift.
Pat’s recent video is only the latest in a string of public attacks on her brother-in-law.
She accused him of betrayal, claiming he had turned against political allies who once helped him, including Umana Okon Umana, former minister of Niger Delta affairs; Nsima Ekere, former APC governorship candidate; Akan Udofia, another former APC candidate; and Bassey Albert of the YPP.
Describing Akpabio as ungrateful and power-hungry, Pat vowed to challenge him for the Akwa Ibom north-west senatorial seat in 2027, warning that his political downfall is imminent.
“When you finish, go home. This is your quit notice. Go home and rest; you need to take care of yourself,” Pat said.
“Nigerians don’t know who you are. When they do, they’ll know you are a very wicked man.”
Pat stated that Akpabio’s hometown, Ukana Ikot Ntuen, has been without electricity for several weeks, a situation she said reflects the senate president’s failure to bring meaningful development to his own community despite his high political position.
She further claimed that Akpabio had accused her husband, Ibanga, of murdering one of his close political allies and of being responsible for his defeat in the 2019 senatorial election.
Pat also claimed that Akpabio accused her husband of absconding with his money.
“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 said.
Pat challenged Akpabio to publicly respond to her accusations, warning that she would reveal even more damaging information about him if he remained silent.
In response, on Monday, October 13, Akpabio, through his spokesperson Eseme Eyiboh, dismissed her claims and advised her to report any allegations of wrongdoing to the appropriate security agencies rather than making accusations on social media.
“Killing is at the heart of our criminal justice administration. So I expect a citizen who is aware of the commission of such a crime to be honest enough and be responsive by reporting or inviting the attention of the appropriate department of state to investigate. The issue of murder is not an issue that you want to use for a political vendetta. The law is very clear that whoever asserts must prove,” Eyiboh said.
Eyiboh described Akpabio as “a humble and devoted family man,” noting that Pat was exploiting these very qualities to attack him publicly.
He added that the senate president is focused on his national duties and has no time to engage with his sister-in-law’s remarks.
“I think she is just doing it for attention. Who is going to give her that attention? The Senate president is very busy.”
“It cannot. Because apart from the person who alleges, every other person is aware that those accusations do not exist,” he responded.
