Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has firmly denied claims that he pledged to prioritise the interests of the Yoruba ethnic group if elected president in 2027.
The denial came on Thursday following a wave of online reports that quoted a statement supposedly issued on Atiku’s behalf by one “Kola Johnson,” described in the reports as his media consultant.
Reacting to the reports, Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, dismissed the statement as fake, insisting that neither the former Vice President nor any member of his official team made such a promise.
In a strongly worded statement, Ibe said:
“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.”
He stressed that the former Vice President never engaged anyone named Kola Johnson as a media consultant and warned the public not to be misled by false publications.
The claim, which quickly spread on social media platforms and some online blogs, suggested that Atiku would focus on Yoruba interests if elected president in 2027 — a statement that has now been discredited.
Ibe described the content of the fake statement as “particularly offensive,” especially the insinuation that an Atiku administration would be controlled by one ethnic group.
He stated that such narratives are part of a growing pattern of disinformation designed to discredit key opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“This is not just an attack on Atiku Abubakar; it is an attack on national unity. Atiku has always stood for inclusiveness, justice, and fairness across all regions of the country,” Ibe added.
He further clarified that all official statements from Atiku must come directly from the Atiku Media Office and be signed by him or his Special Assistant on Public Communication. Any other source, he said, should be treated as unauthorised.
Ibe accused the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of sponsoring such fabrications as part of a desperate strategy to shift attention from the growing hardship in the country.
“This administration is clearly afraid of the growing support Atiku enjoys across the country. That is why it is resorting to lies, distractions, and propaganda,” Ibe alleged.
He also urged journalists and media organisations to always verify the authenticity of political statements before publication, especially during a time when political tensions are rising ahead of the next election cycle.
The statement ends with a call to Nigerians to stay vigilant and not fall for divisive tactics designed to pit one ethnic group against another for political gain.
