DISINFO ALERT: Atiku Never Vowed To Prioritise Yoruba Interests In 2027- Media Aide
The media office of Atiku Abubakar, the former vice-president, has dismissed reports that he promised to prioritise the interests of the Yoruba ethnic group if elected president in 2027.
On Wednesday, several online reports attributed the claim to a statement purportedly issued on Atiku’s behalf by one Kola Johnson, described in the reports as his “media consultant”.
But in a statement on Thursday, Paul Ibe, media adviser to the former presidential candidate, said Atiku never engaged Johnson in any capacity, describing the report as false and misleading.
“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 described as “particularly offensive” the suggestion that an Atiku administration would be dominated by one ethnic group, adding that such disinformation was part of a wider propaganda effort.
The media aide noted that any communication from Atiku can only be considered authentic if issued by the Atiku Media Office and signed either by him or the former vice-president’s special assistant on public communications.
“Atiku Abubakar has never engaged one Kola Johnson as a media consultant, aide, or associate. Any statement issued in that name is fake and should be disregarded. We urge media houses that have published such falsehoods to immediately retract them,” Ibe added.
He cautioned Nigerians and the media to remain alert against propaganda, accusing the administration of President Bola Tinubu of sponsoring “fabricated statements” to ridicule opposition figures.
Read The Full Statement Below:
PRESS RELEASE
Presidency engaged in high-level propaganda, disinformation against Atiku
We have observed with concern a certain self-styled “media consultant,” one Kola Johnson, issuing press releases in the name of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
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.
Particularly offensive is the false claim attributed to this individual that an Atiku administration would be dominated by a single ethnic group. This disinformation is part of a calculated propaganda project designed to ridicule Atiku in the media.
Let it be clear: Atiku Abubakar has never engaged one Kola Johnson as a media consultant, aide, or associate. Any statement issued in that name is fake and should be disregarded. We urge media houses that have published such falsehoods to immediately retract them.
We caution Nigerians, especially the media, to remain vigilant against the propaganda schemes of the Tinubu administration, which now include circulating fabricated statements through compromised journalists.
For the record, authentic information from Atiku Abubakar is only released through the Atiku Media Office, signed by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, or the Special Assistant on Public Communications. Editors and media gatekeepers are strongly advised to verify with the AMO before publication.
Signed:
Paul Ibe
Atiku Media Office
Abuja
25 September, 2025.
