Fresh audio recordings released by US-based activist Sandra Duru, also known as Prof. Mgbeke, have renewed public attention on the long-running dispute between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Duru alleged in a roughly nine-minute recording that Akpabio engaged her to campaign against Akpoti-Uduaghan, a claim that has not been independently authenticated.
Key Highlights
- Sandra Duru released a roughly nine-minute audio recording on social media alleging that Akpabio engaged her to campaign against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
- The latest allegation differs from Duru’s 2025 claim that Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to recruit her to campaign against Akpabio.
- Duru also released excerpts containing a male voice she identified as Akpabio discussing political issues involving Ifeanyi Okowa and Ned Nwoko.
- The authenticity of the recordings, identities of the voices, date of the conversations and completeness of the audio have not been independently verified.
- Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan had not issued substantive responses to the latest recordings in reports reviewed as of September 20–21, 2026.
- An FCT High Court in January 2026 restrained Duru and Meta from further circulating materials that were the subject of a defamation case brought by Akpoti-Uduaghan.
What Sandra Duru’s Latest Audio Claims
Duru presented the latest recording as a preview of further disclosures concerning her alleged dealings with prominent Nigerian political figures.
According to reports on the recording, she alleged that Akpabio engaged or hired her to mount a campaign against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Excerpts also reportedly contain a male voice that Duru identified as Akpabio discussing political developments, including former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Senator Ned Nwoko.
One report said the voice allegedly discussed Okowa’s movement to the All Progressives Congress and suggested that concerns over corruption investigations played a role. However, the identity of the speaker, the context of the conversation and the authenticity of the recording have not been independently established.
The claims therefore remain allegations rather than established facts.
Natasha Audio Also Draws Attention
Another recording circulating online has been attributed to Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Commentary surrounding the clip alleges that a voice identified as the senator directed a media contact to promote a narrative accusing Akpabio of attempting to pressure President Bola Tinubu into “sacrificing” her.
The recording has also not been independently authenticated.
The competing recordings have generated debate over whether the material represents genuine private conversations, edited excerpts or manipulated audio. Without forensic examination and access to the complete original recordings, those questions remain unresolved.
Latest Claims Reverse Duru’s 2025 Position
The new allegations have attracted particular attention because they differ significantly from Duru’s public claims in 2025.
In May 2025, Duru accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of attempting to recruit her into a campaign against Akpabio. Reports at the time said Duru alleged that the senator offered her ₦200 million for the proposed campaign.
Akpoti-Uduaghan denied the allegations and disputed the authenticity and interpretation of materials released by Duru.
The latest recording presents a different account, with Duru now alleging that Akpabio himself engaged her to campaign against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
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Akpabio, Natasha Yet To Address Fresh Claims
As the latest audio circulated online, neither Akpabio nor Akpoti-Uduaghan had provided a substantive public response to the specific allegations in the new recording, according to reports reviewed.
Akpabio’s media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, reportedly did not respond to requests for comment, while Akpoti-Uduaghan’s media aide, Mike Idoko, said the senator’s camp had no comment on the matter.
The absence of detailed responses has left the authenticity and meaning of the recordings open to further scrutiny.
Background To The Akpabio-Natasha Dispute
The dispute between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan intensified in 2025 after the Kogi Central senator made allegations of sexual harassment against the Senate President. Akpabio denied the allegations.
The controversy subsequently led to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension from the Senate and generated a series of public exchanges, legal actions and political accusations.
Duru later became involved in the dispute after making allegations against Akpoti-Uduaghan. The senator rejected those allegations and subsequently pursued legal and other official channels over materials she described as defamatory.
Court Action Over Earlier Publications
The controversy has also reached the courts. In January 2026, an FCT High Court granted an interlocutory injunction restraining Duru and Meta Platforms from further circulating specified materials that were the subject of a defamation case filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The court held that the matter raised a serious question to be tried and directed that certain publications identified in the proceedings be taken down or access to them be disabled. Separately, that same month, courts in Abuja struck out criminal defamation and cybercrime charges the federal government had brought against Akpoti-Uduaghan in a related matter, underlining how the wider dispute has played out across several parallel legal fronts.
The court proceedings underscore the distinction between allegations made in public and claims that can ultimately be established through evidence in a legal process.
Why The Fresh Audio Matters
The latest recordings have revived broader questions about the use of private conversations, leaked audio and social media disclosures in Nigerian political disputes.
Audio recordings can provide potentially significant evidence when their authenticity, provenance and context are established. However, a recording circulating online does not by itself establish who made the statements, when they were made, whether the material is complete or whether it has been edited.
These questions are particularly important in a dispute where competing parties have previously challenged the authenticity and interpretation of recordings.
Verification Remains Central
The central issue surrounding the latest Duru recordings is therefore verification.
Independent forensic examination would be necessary to establish whether the voices belong to the individuals identified, whether the recordings have been altered and whether the excerpts accurately represent the original conversations.
The wider context of any conversation would also be important in determining what particular statements mean.
Until such verification is available, the claims contained in the recordings remain allegations.
The latest development has nevertheless added another chapter to the prolonged Akpabio-Natasha dispute, with Duru’s latest position differing substantially from her earlier public account. As further material is reportedly expected, attention will remain on whether the individuals involved respond, whether the recordings undergo independent forensic examination and whether any competent authority takes steps to investigate the specific allegations.
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