Atiku Abubakar Accuses Presidency of Sponsoring Fake Statements Through Hired Mercenaries

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Presidency of orchestrating a disinformation campaign targeted at damaging his reputation. In a statement released on Thursday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku alleged that the Presidency had engaged “faceless mercenaries” to issue fabricated press statements in his name.

The office of the former Vice President described as “particularly offensive” a false claim suggesting that an Atiku Abubakar-led government would be dominated by one ethnic group. According to the statement, the claim was part of a wider propaganda project allegedly designed to ridicule Atiku in the media and sow distrust among Nigerians.

Atiku Abubakar clarified that he had no association with the supposed consultant at the centre of the controversy. “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,” his office stated.

Atiku Abubakar Urged The Media to Verify Information Before Publication

The Atiku Abubakar Media Office called on news organisations that had published such falsehoods to immediately retract and correct their reports. It stressed the importance of journalistic integrity, urging editors and reporters to confirm the authenticity of statements with his official office before dissemination.

“We urge media houses that have published such falsehoods to immediately retract them,” the statement emphasised, while advising journalists to verify information with either Paul Ibe, Media Adviser, or AbdulRasheed Shehu, Special Assistant on Public Communications, before going public.

Atiku’s office further warned of a growing trend where compromised journalists are allegedly being used to amplify politically motivated propaganda. “We caution Nigerians, especially the media, to remain vigilant against the propaganda schemes of the Tinubu administration,” it said.

Accusations of Presidency-Backed Propaganda

Atiku Abubakar’s camp pointed directly at the Presidency, accusing it of desperation in discrediting opposition leaders. “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,” the statement read.

By distancing himself from the false publications, Atiku Abubakar reassured Nigerians that all genuine communication from him would only come through the Atiku Media Office. His advisers stressed that his political positions and public statements are always issued with clear attribution, not through shadowy intermediaries.