Akpabio/Duru audio: Plot against Akpoti-Uduaghan has

From Okwe Obi, Abuja

Action Collective has said the latest allegations by activist Sandra Duru over her dealings with Senate President Godswill Akpabio have turned the tables on those it accused of plotting to politically damage Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

National Coordinator of the group, Teddy Onyejuwe, said the development had raised fresh questions over the competing narratives surrounding the long-running dispute involving Akpabio, Duru and the Kogi Central senator.

Duru, also known as Prof Mgbeke, recently released a purported nine-minute audio recording which she presented as part of a conversation with Akpabio, alleging that the Senate President engaged her to campaign against Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The authenticity and full context of the recording, as well as the identity of the voices, have not been independently established.

Duru’s latest allegation represents a reversal of her position in 2025, when she accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of offering her N200 million to make allegations against Akpabio. Akpoti-Uduaghan denied the claim.

Reacting to the latest development in a statement yesterday, Onyejuwe said what he described as a conspiracy against the senator had backfired and that attention should now be focused on the alleged dealings between Duru and Akpabio.

“Whatever happened between Sandra Duru and Akpabio should now be addressed by the two of them. Natasha should not be dragged into their current war.

“The latest accusations by Sandra Duru have now turned the spotlight back on Duru and Akpabio themselves,” he said.

Onyejuwe said the allegations, if substantiated, would raise questions about who was behind the competing campaigns and why Duru’s earlier allegations against Akpoti-Uduaghan were made.

“If there was an agreement, let those who allegedly made it explain. If there was a conspiracy, let the evidence establish it. But Natasha was not a party to whatever discussions may have taken place between Duru and Akpabio.

“Duru and Akpabio should fight their own battle. Natasha should not be their ammunition,” he said.

The controversy between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan erupted publicly in February 2025 following a dispute over the senator’s seating arrangement in the Senate.

Akpoti-Uduaghan subsequently accused Akpabio of making sexual advances towards her, alleging that one of the incidents occurred during a visit to Akwa Ibom in December 2023. Akpabio denied the allegations.

The dispute escalated in March 2025 when the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over what it said was misconduct arising from the seating dispute.

Duru later became embroiled in the controversy with allegations against Akpoti-Uduaghan, which the senator denied.

Her latest account has, however, contradicted key aspects of those earlier claims and introduced fresh allegations about her relationship and dealings with the Senate President.