I Never Vowed to Favor Yoruba Interests – Atiku

The media office of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed claims that he pledged to favor the Yoruba ethnic group if elected president in 2027.

The clarification follows reports circulated on Wednesday, alleging that Atiku made such a promise in a statement attributed to one Kola Johnson, who was described as his “media consultant.”

In a statement released on Thursday, Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, debunked the claim, stressing that the former vice president has never retained Johnson in any capacity. He described the report as false, misleading, and deliberately orchestrated.

ALSO READ : Tinubu Tasks Wike with Abuja Law School Hostel Project

“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 alleged.

He further condemned the insinuation that an Atiku-led government would prioritize one ethnic group, calling it “particularly offensive” and part of a wider disinformation campaign.

Ibe emphasized that any official communication from Atiku must come through the Atiku Media Office and be signed either by himself or the former VP’s special assistant on public communications.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL

He urged Nigerians and the press to remain vigilant against propaganda, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of sponsoring fabricated statements to discredit opposition figures.