Senate President Akpabio claims Tinubu’s online critics are paid, urges northern youth mobilisation

Akpabio accuses paid critics of President Tinubu

On 28 October 2026, Senate President Godswill Akpabio told a delegation from the Arewa Revival Project that people attacking President Bola Tinubu and his supporters on social media are being paid to do so. The remarks were made during a courtesy visit to Akpabio’s office in Abuja. The Arewa Revival Project, a youth group whose members come from all 19 northern states, had presented the Senate President with an award for his contributions to nation‑building.

Akpabio urged the group’s members to mobilise grassroots support for Tinubu’s 2027 re‑election. He said that Nigerians should understand the benefits of continuity in government and that the critics on social media were not acting out of conviction but were being paid. The former Akwa Ibom governor, who has long supported Tinubu, echoed Akpabio’s call for the youth to rise above “social media propaganda” and highlighted the president’s economic reforms.

Background

The comments come as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general election. President Tinubu has been in office since 2023 and is seeking a second term. Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, has been a vocal supporter of Tinubu’s administration. The Arewa Revival Project, led by coordinator Mustafa Ibrahim, is a youth movement that aims to influence political engagement across the northern region.

In addition to the discussion on political mobilisation, Akpabio addressed security matters. He expressed confidence that the creation of state police forces would soon be realised, noting that the constitutional amendment process had advanced significantly. Several state Houses of Assembly have already endorsed the proposal, and Akpabio said the government was working to strengthen the overall security framework.

Why it matters

The allegation that critics of President Tinubu are being paid raises questions about the integrity of online political discourse in Nigeria. If true, it could undermine public trust in social media as a platform for free expression and could influence the outcome of the upcoming election. The Senate President’s call for northern youths to support Tinubu’s re‑election highlights the importance of grassroots mobilisation in a country where regional loyalties can shape electoral outcomes.

The discussion also touches on the broader economic context. Akpabio praised Tinubu’s tax reforms and efforts to diversify the economy away from dependence on crude oil. He argued that these policies were designed with the long‑term interests of young Nigerians in mind. The president’s administration has been credited with bringing innovations to the tax system and modernising anachronistic laws.

What happens next

The sources do not provide specific dates for the next steps beyond the ongoing constitutional amendment process for state police forces. Akpabio’s remarks were made during the Arewa Revival Project visit, and no further actions were announced in the statements. The political landscape will continue to evolve as the 2027 election approaches, with the Senate President’s comments likely to influence both supporters and critics of President Tinubu.