Nigerian politicians often accuse the media of misrepresenting or misinterpreting their statements whenever public backlash arises. A recent example involves Edo North Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who during an interview on AIT's Politics Today on Monday claimed that some senators whose names and signatures appeared on the recommendation for the suspension of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan last year neither signed nor endorsed the suspension. Since a video clip of the interview began circulating on social media, it has drawn attention and fueled speculations that the recommendation might have been compromised to favor Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Several newspapers reported the interview from the angle that Oshiomhole said some senators' signatures were forged, and blogs amplified the story.
Oshiomhole's Denial
Less than 24 hours later, Oshiomhole issued a statement denying that he had alleged forgery and accused the media of misinterpreting his comments. However, a review of the interview transcript and video shows that his original statements clearly referenced forged signatures.
What Oshiomhole Actually Said
The interviewer initially asked Oshiomhole to respond to Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele's recent remark that the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan represented one of the Senate's lowest moments in recent years. Responding, Oshiomhole, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, said some senators had complained that their names appeared on the suspension recommendation despite not endorsing it. He specifically mentioned Senator Ireti Kingibe of the Federal Capital Territory as one of those who raised concerns.
“There are people who wonder, who claim that their signatures were forged on that document. Someone like Senator Kingibe…she told me, ‘but I didn’t sign that report, and I didn’t agree with the content,’ but her name was published,” he said.
Oshiomhole explained that members typically endorse committee reports by signing them, and senators who disagree may decline to sign. “You see, the way the Senate works is with committees, particularly through its oversight functions. They’ll hold a hearing and hear from everyone who has something to say. Then the committee will decide and agree on its findings and specific recommendations, and members of the committee are expected to sign the report to reflect the committee’s collective decision. So, where many don’t accept, they could abstain from signing it because, to sign is to endorse,” he said.
Oshiomhole stated that about three senators did not sign the recommendation, yet their names and signatures were still on it. “So, there are one or two or three senators who said they didn’t sign, ‘but our names were there, how?’ Some said they may have attached an attendance register, which is inappropriate. But that is not my problem. If Opeyemi said so, I think you should take it seriously,” he added.
Findings
The interpretation of the interview clearly shows that Oshiomhole did say that some senators' signatures were forged in relation to the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan. Reports stating that he raised allegations of forged signatures are supported by his comments during the interview. If a person did not sign a document but later finds their signature on it, it generally implies that the signature may have been forged or improperly affixed.
Premium Times understands that Oshiomhole may have come under pressure from colleagues, which could have influenced his subsequent denial. However, the interview also indicates that he presented the allegation as a complaint from other senators rather than as a claim he had independently verified. The newspaper had earlier reported exclusively that the signatures attached to the report were allegedly taken from the attendance register.
Verdict
Oshiomhole's argument that he did not say senators' signatures were forged is contradicted by his actual remarks. He could have taken responsibility for his statement and apologized to his colleagues, rather than blaming the media for misinterpretation.
