Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna governor, has refuted claims that he stated which region should produce Nigeria’s president in 2027.
Social media reports alleged that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain said the south should produce the president in the 2027 election.
The reports further suggested that El-Rufai might be supporting Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, over former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Reacting in a statement on Monday via his verified X handle, El-Rufai described the trending claims as “untrue” despite their widespread circulation.
He emphasised that he has never made such remarks in any speeches, interviews, or posts on his verified social media platforms.
“My attention has been drawn to a trending fake news item alleging that I specified which region of the country should produce the president in 2027,” he said.
“This is an untrue claim, despite its virality. I did not make such a statement in any of my speeches, interviews or social media posts. I maintain verifiable social media platforms where I speak my mind and express my personal views directly.”
The ex-governor also warned against attributing opinion articles written by others to him, even when he shares them on his platforms to contribute to national discourse.
“These clarifications are crucial as we confront both irresponsible politicking and the deliberate misuse of social media for the spread of fake news,” he said.
“The wilful attribution to me of claims I did not make by fake news platforms is no justification for treating such platforms with any seriousness.”
He urged journalists and the public to verify information before publishing or sharing, stressing the societal risks of failing in this responsibility.
“In this age of turmoil and falsehood, the obligation to verify information before posting or publishing has become more important than ever. In this instance, it appears that some senior editors ignored this duty,” he said.
“Society stands to lose when media leaders align with the most irresponsible actors on social media in what can only be described as the unedifying Olympics of fiction and fakery. Everyone must live up to their responsibility,” El-Rufai added.
He reiterated that no views should be attributed to him unless explicitly expressed on his official social media platforms or during interviews with reputable media organisations.