Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Thursday, September 25, 2025, accused the presidency of engaging in high-level propaganda and disinformation against him.
A statement by Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to Atiku, stated that they have noted with concern a certain self-styled “media consultant,” bearing Kola Johnson, who issued press releases in the name of the former Vice President.
Ibe said that the Atiku Media Office’s investigations pointed 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 particularly noted what it described as “offensive false claim” attributed to the Kola Johnson, who stated that an Atiku administration would be dominated by a single ethnic group.
In the words of Ibe; “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,” it said.
The statement therefore advised editors and media gatekeepers to always verify with the Atiku Media Office before publication.
