The Action Collective, a civic advocacy group, has called on Mr. Ken Okolugbo, the Communication Adviser to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, to clarify the circumstances surrounding a now-deleted post from his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, which appeared to admit involvement in a coordinated effort to discredit Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a statement signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Mr. Teddy Onyejuwe, Action Collective described Mr. Okolugbo’s claim that his account was hacked as “inadequate,” urging him to provide further explanation and verifiable evidence to support the assertion.
The post in question, which was live for over an hour before it was deleted, included what read as an apology and a statement referencing alleged meetings in London and the use of manipulated audio materials. It also contained a plea for forgiveness in the spirit of the Eid El-Kabir celebration. Shortly after the post was removed, Mr. Okolugbo stated that the content was the result of a hack and did not originate from him.
Action Collective has questioned the timeline of events, asking how the account was recovered so quickly and why the post remained public for such a period if it was unauthorised. “You must prove your innocence. Denial alone does not suffice. Nigerians deserve transparency on this matter,” the group stated.
Mr. Onyejuwe further suggested that the sudden retraction may have raised public concern, but acknowledged that only a credible investigation could establish the facts. “If the post was made in error or under duress, that should be proven conclusively. Our call is for truth, not trial by speculation,” he noted.
The group also expressed concern over the broader implications of using cybersecurity breach claims in politically sensitive situations. “Cybersecurity is a serious matter. Using it as a shield without clarity can erode public confidence in digital communication,” the statement said.
Action Collective concluded by reaffirming its support for open governance and due process. It called on relevant authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly and fairly. “We urge Mr. Okolugbo to either present clear evidence supporting his claim or assist in a transparent inquiry. Public trust depends on accountability,” the group’s statement read.
