Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Presidency of orchestrating a disinformation campaign aimed at damaging his reputation.
In a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku alleged that the Presidency was hiring “faceless mercenaries” to fabricate stories and release unauthorised press statements in his name.
“Our findings point directly to the Presidency, which in its desperation to smear opposition leaders, has resorted to hiring faceless mercenaries to circulate fake statements under Atiku’s name,” the statement said.
One such claim suggested that an Atiku-led administration would be dominated by a single ethnic group — a narrative his office dismissed as a calculated propaganda strategy “designed to ridicule Atiku in the media.”
The statement clarified that Atiku had never engaged one Kola Johnson as a consultant, aide, or associate, urging media houses that carried the false report to retract it immediately.
Atiku also accused the Tinubu administration of compromising journalists to spread misinformation. “We caution Nigerians, especially the media, to remain vigilant against the propaganda schemes of the Tinubu administration,” the statement added.
Reiterating his channels of official communication, Atiku’s office stressed that authentic information is only released through the Atiku Media Office, signed either by Paul Ibe, Media Adviser, or AbdulRasheed Shehu, Special Assistant on Public Communications.
“Editors and media gatekeepers are strongly advised to verify with the AMO before publication,” the statement concluded.
