Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of orchestrating a coordinated smear campaign against her.

In a petition dated May 15, titled “Petition Against Coordinated Defamation and Cyberbullying by Sponsored Syndicate at the Behest of the President of the Senate – Godswill Akpabio,” Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Akpabio deployed media proxies to circulate false and damaging reports aimed at destroying her reputation.

The senator, through her counsel Ehiogie West-Idahosa, stated that several identical articles were published across multiple online platforms on May 10, accusing her of sponsoring terrorism, being involved in killings in Kogi Central, and engaging in illegal arms deals.

“These publications were not only identical in content but also strategically timed and syndicated across various platforms in a manner that clearly suggests a centrally coordinated attack,” the petition read.

Akpoti-Uduaghan described the reports as baseless, malicious, and defamatory, warning that the allegations pose a threat to her life, family, and political career. She said the campaign amounts to cyberbullying and character assassination, allegedly designed to delegitimize her role as a federal lawmaker and lay grounds for politically motivated investigations.

Referencing similar alleged attacks during the 2023 Kogi governorship election, where she ran under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the senator urged the IGP to investigate Akpabio’s role and bring all involved parties to justice.

“It is imperative that those who misuse their positions of power to intimidate and malign others are held accountable,” she wrote.

She also called for protection from security threats resulting from the terrorism accusations, warning that the trend of political blackmail and cyberbullying poses a serious danger to democracy, free speech, and institutional integrity.