A member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Patrick Umoh, has said that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, doesn’t deserve unwarranted attack from an alleged member of his family, Mrs. Patience Ibanga Akpabio.

Umoh, in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, called for an immediate end to what he described as a “shameful charade” of defamation targeting Akpabio by Ibanga Akpabio.

Umoh accused the Essien Udim-born woman of orchestrating what he termed an “unprovoked and dishonourable campaign of character assassination” against the Senate President through inflammatory social media posts devoid of factual substance.

The lawmaker, who represents Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, said the tirades not only smear Senator Akpabio’s image but also tarnish the Akpabio family name and the reputation of Essien Udim, one of the three local government areas he represents in the House.

Umoh, who previously served as Akpabio’s Senior Legislative Aide and later as Special Assistant during his tenure as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, urged Mrs. Akpabio to “reflect soberly on the consequences” of her actions, stressing the need to uphold shared cultural values of respect for elders and the sanctity of truth.

He extolled Akpabio’s eight-year tenure as governor of Akwa Ibom State (2007–2015), describing it as a transformative era that repositioned the state as a “model of progress and modernity,” with landmark achievements in infrastructure, education, and healthcare.

The lawmaker further noted that Akpabio’s current leadership of the 10th Senate continues to demonstrate “rare capacity and statesmanship” at a critical period in the nation’s political and economic journey.

The lawmaker’s remarks came on the heels of a decision by Annang traditional rulers in Akwa Ibom State to summon Mr. Ibanga Akpabio and his wife, Mrs. Patience Ibanga Akpabio, to appear before their Forum — the Afe Nkuku Annang — over alleged “vulgar and malicious statements” made by Mrs. Akpabio against the Senate President.

The paramount rulers expressed their concern in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting of the Afe Nkuku Annang held on Wednesday in Ikot Ekpene, headquarters of Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area.

Mrs. Patience Akpabio, wife of Ibanga Akpabio — a brother to the Senate President — has in recent weeks been trending on social media for her verbal attacks and criminal allegations against Senator Akpabio, while daring critics to challenge her claims. Her conduct has since drawn strong condemnation from Akpabio’s kinsmen and traditional authorities.

The communiqué was jointly signed by the President of Afe Nkuku Annang and Paramount Ruler of Essien Udim, HRM Obong Cosmas Okon Akpan; Vice President, HRM Akuku (Prof.) Amanam Akpanudo Udo, Paramount Ruler of Etim Ekpo; Secretary-General, HRM Akuku Dr. J. J. Obosi IV, Paramount Ruler of Oruk Anam; HRM Akuku Saviour Sylvester Udofia, Paramount Ruler of Abak; and the Paramount Rulers of Ukanafun, Obot Akara, Ika, and Ikot Ekpene Local Government Areas.