Senate President Godswill Akpabio has alleged that people criticising President Bola Tinubu and his supporters on social media are being paid to attack the administration, urging youths in Northern Nigeria to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election.
Akpabio made the remarks on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, when members of the Arewa Revival Project, a youth organisation drawn from the 19 northern states, paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Abuja.
The delegation, led by the group’s coordinator, Mustafa Ibrahim, also presented an award to the Senate President in recognition of what it described as his contributions to nation-building.
While responding to the group, Akpabio encouraged its members to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election bid and communicate the administration’s policies and achievements to Nigerians at the grassroots.
He argued that young people supporting the President could face challenges competing with social media critics whom he accused of receiving financial incentives for their activities.
“It is not going to be easy for you because most of those who are attacking the President and attacking these young men on social media are being paid. You are not being paid,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President advised the youths to organise periodic meetings with their peers to explain the government’s policies and counter what he described as propaganda against the administration.
He maintained that Nigerians should consider the long-term implications of government policies rather than relying solely on negative narratives circulating online.
Akpabio also defended Tinubu’s economic reforms, particularly the tax reform programme, arguing that the administration was working to diversify Nigeria’s economy and reduce its dependence on crude oil revenue.
“I expect the Nigerian youth to rise above social media propaganda because this President has managed to take us out of a mono-economy — an economy that was dependent only on crude oil,” he said.
He added that the administration had introduced reforms intended to modernise outdated laws and improve the country’s economic structure.
Akpabio further praised Tinubu’s performance, claiming that no Nigerian president since independence had achieved a comparable level of development.
He said members of the National Assembly were proud of the administration and had endorsed Tinubu to seek a second term in office.
The Senate President’s comments come as political parties and their supporters intensify preparations for the January 16, 2027 general election, with Tinubu seeking re-election under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Social media has become an increasingly important platform for political communication, campaign mobilisation and public scrutiny of government policies. The platform also remains a battleground for competing narratives among supporters of the ruling party and opposition groups.
However, Akpabio did not publicly identify specific individuals or present evidence during the meeting to substantiate his allegation that most people criticising the President online were being paid.
His remarks therefore remain an allegation rather than an independently established finding about the motivations of social media users critical of the government.
On national security, Akpabio also expressed optimism that the establishment of state police could soon become a reality, saying the constitutional amendment process was approaching completion.
He claimed that about 30 state Houses of Assembly had endorsed the proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police, which he said could strengthen security by allowing a more decentralised policing structure.
The creation of state police has remained a subject of national debate, with proponents arguing that it could improve responses to local security threats, while questions about oversight, funding and possible political interference remain central to discussions about its implementation.
Akpabio expressed confidence that Nigeria would overcome its security challenges and urged the visiting youths to continue their political mobilisation.
Earlier, Ibrahim said the group honoured the Senate President in recognition of his contributions to national development and the work of the National Assembly under his leadership.
The meeting highlights the growing focus on youth mobilisation and online political messaging as the 2027 election approaches, with the ruling party seeking to defend its record and opposition voices continuing to scrutinise the administration.
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