Nigeria TV Info — Atiku Accuses Presidency of Orchestrating Disinformation Campaign

Abuja — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Presidency of masterminding a coordinated disinformation campaign targeted at tarnishing his image, urging Nigerians and media organisations to be wary of fake statements circulated in his name.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku alleged that the Presidency had employed “faceless mercenaries” to fabricate stories and publish unauthorised press releases under his name.

“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,” the statement read.

He condemned as “particularly offensive” a false report alleging that his administration, if elected, would be dominated by a single ethnic group, describing it as part of a deliberate propaganda project “designed to ridicule Atiku in the media.”

The statement clarified that Atiku had no links to the alleged consultant named in the reports.

“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,” it said.

Atiku’s camp also urged media houses that published the claims to issue immediate retractions. “We urge media houses that have published such falsehoods to immediately retract them,” the statement added.

Furthermore, Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of compromising journalists to spread propaganda against him.

“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,” the statement concluded.