ABUJA, Nigeria – The South-South Zonal chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a stern warning to popular social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, demanding that he apologise within a week for disparaging Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The controversy stems from a viral video in which VeryDarkMan criticised Akpabio’s participation in a federal government delegation to the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican City.
In the three-minute video, Otse labelled Akpabio’s attendance as “shameful,” arguing that the Senate President should have focused on visiting states grappling with violence, such as Benue, Plateau, Kwara, Ogun, and Enugu, instead of representing Nigeria at a religious event.
In response, Blessing Agbomhere, the APC’s South-South Zonal Organising Secretary, condemned the video, accusing VeryDarkMan of engaging in blackmail and character assassination under the guise of activism.
Agbomhere questioned the legitimacy of Otse’s claims, stressing that Akpabio was nominated by President Bola Tinubu to lead the delegation to the Vatican, a role which Agbomhere defended as fitting for the Senate President, given his standing as a devout Catholic and a respected public figure.
“This unwarranted verbal attack on the number three citizen of Nigeria, who was not self-appointed but nominated by the President to represent Nigeria at the Pope’s funeral, is beyond the bounds of acceptable discourse,” Agbomhere said.
“What exactly is wrong with that?”
The APC leader further insisted that Akpabio’s appointment by President Tinubu was a reflection of his trust in Akpabio’s character and capabilities, underscoring his role as a worthy ambassador for the country.
Agbomhere also stated that VeryDarkMan’s attacks were a form of slander, accusing him of undermining the integrity of both the Senate President and the Tinubu administration.
“VeryDarkMan is becoming notorious for blackmail, slander, and character assassination while pretending to be an advocate for the masses,” Agbomhere remarked.
The APC official gave VeryDarkMan a one-week deadline to issue an unreserved apology to Akpabio, urging him to cease further efforts to tarnish the administration’s reputation.
“I am issuing VeryDarkMan a one-week ultimatum to immediately tender an unreserved apology to the Senate president for his slanderous comments,” Agbomhere stated.
In addition, Agbomhere urged Nigerians to disregard the influencer’s “uninformed ranting,” emphasising that the current administration, under President Tinubu, was committed to tackling the country’s security challenges, despite inheriting a complex situation.
He pointed to recent efforts, including a meeting between President Tinubu and security chiefs, as evidence of the administration’s seriousness in addressing the country’s security concerns.
“The security problems in the country cannot be wished away with a wave of the hand; it takes time to achieve a semblance of peace, and that is a commitment that the Tinubu-led administration made to Nigerians,” Agbomhere concluded.
