VDM QUESTIONS SENATOR NATASHA OVER PURPORTED LEAKED VOICE NOTE: “IS THIS YOUR VOICE?”

Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has reacted to a purported leaked voice recording allegedly involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, reigniting discussions surrounding the long-running controversy involving the senator, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and US-based activist Sandra Duru.In a video shared on social media, VDM addressed the recording after Duru released audio excerpts which she presented as conversations connected to the political dispute.While discussing the purported recording attributed to Natasha, VDM directly questioned the senator over the identity of the voice.«“To Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, is this your voice?”»VDM also began his commentary by arguing that politicians can sometimes use members of the public to advance political battles.«“THIS IS HOW POLITICIANS USE NIGERIANS TO FIGHT THEIR BATTLES. THEY PLAY ON OUR EMOTIONS…”»He subsequently turned his attention to another purported recording allegedly involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Sandra Duru.According to VDM, the contents of that recording also raised questions that required answers. He said:«“Meanwhile, to the Senate President, from your l3@k voice call with SANDRA DURU, I have a lot of questions.”»VDM further directed a question toward President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what he interpreted as a reference to the President in the purported recording.«“After listening to the call, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has to kick you out, you technically referred to @officialABAT as someone you control. Will President Tinubu take this?”»The comments have generated reactions online, with social media users expressing differing views over the recordings and VDM’s interpretation of them.However, the authenticity of the recordings remains an important issue. Reports by Punch and other Nigerian media outlets state that the identities of the voices, the authenticity of the recordings and their full context had not been independently verified.Senator Natasha’s media aide, Mike Idoko, was also reported to have declined to comment on the latest allegations, saying:«“We have no comment on this issue, please.”»The controversy therefore remains centred on the competing allegations surrounding the purported recordings, with further clarification from the individuals involved potentially determining how the latest claims are understood.For now, the recordings remain purported and unverified, while VDM’s public questioning of Senator Natasha has added another layer to the ongoing political dispute.