The media office of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed reports alleging that he pledged to prioritise the interests of the Yoruba ethnic group should he contest and win the presidency in 2027.
On Wednesday, several outlets circulated a statement purportedly issued on Atiku’s behalf by one Kola Johnson, who was described as his “media consultant.”
But in a swift rebuttal on Thursday, Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, debunked the claim, stressing that the former vice president has never engaged Johnson in any official or unofficial capacity. He described the report as “false, misleading, and malicious.”
“Our findings point directly to the Presidency, which, in its desperation to smear opposition leaders, has resorted to hiring faceless mercenaries to fabricate fake stories and circulate unauthorized statements on Atiku,” Ibe said.
He condemned as “particularly offensive” the insinuation that an Atiku-led administration would favour a single ethnic group, insisting that such propaganda was aimed at discrediting opposition figures ahead of 2027.
Ibe further clarified that any official communication from Atiku must emanate from the Atiku Media Office and be signed either by him personally or by his Special Assistant on Public Communications.
The statement urged Nigerians and the media to exercise vigilance against politically motivated disinformation, accusing the administration of President Bola Tinubu of orchestrating “fabricated statements” to tarnish the image of opposition leaders.
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