The Nigerian Senate has taken a decisive step against the spread of misinformation, directing the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to launch a full investigation into fabricated reports concerning the health of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Senate Adopts Resolution Following Point of Order
This resolution was formally adopted by federal lawmakers during the plenary session on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. The move was triggered by a point of order raised by Senator Titus Zam, who brought the malicious reports to the attention of the chamber.
Senator Zam cited widely circulated fake news on various media platforms, which falsely claimed that Senate President Akpabio had suffered a sudden health emergency and was urgently rushed to a hospital in London. The senator condemned this act of misinformation as completely unacceptable and urged that the perpetrators be identified and prosecuted to serve as a strong deterrent to others.
Akpabio Laments Difficulty in Regulating Social Media Content
In his response to the issue, Senator Godswill Akpabio expressed his frustration with the challenge of controlling narratives, especially about politicians, on digital platforms. The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain lamented the increasing difficulty in regulating content published on social media.
He critically described the output on some platforms as a classic case of "garbage in, garbage out," highlighting the poor quality and unverified nature of the information being disseminated.
Public Reaction and Calls for Proof
The Senate's directive has sparked a wave of reactions from Nigerians on social media, with many questioning the priority given to this investigation amid pressing national security challenges.
Key public sentiments include:
- Criticism that the NSA should focus on banditry and nationwide insecurity instead of "people trolling" politicians.
- Questions about why concrete investigations into killings in the Middle Belt and other regions have not been ordered with similar urgency.
- Calls for the Senate President to simply provide video evidence or appear in public to debunk the rumours, rather than pursuing legal action.
- Skeptical queries about what needs to be investigated if the report has already been declared fake.
Background of the Fake Report: The false narrative claimed that Senator Akpabio had collapsed and was hospitalised in London for treatment, suggesting this was the reason for his absence from recent official engagements. However, his media aide, Kenny Okolugbo, swiftly dismissed these claims as entirely false and misleading.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of similar misinformation targeting high-profile Nigerian politicians. Notably, a separate unverified report by Sahara Reporters had also claimed that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. That report remains unconfirmed by other reputable platforms, and Wike's spokesman had not reacted at the time of the Senate's resolution.
