Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has publicly denied claims linking him to comments on which region should produce Nigeria’s president in 2027.
He described the reports as false and misleading, saying they did not reflect his views in any form.
The claims, which circulated widely on social media, alleged that El-Rufai stated that the presidency should shift to the South in 2027.
Some reports also suggested that he was quietly supporting Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, ahead of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Reacting to the reports, El-Rufai dismissed them outright. He said the information being circulated was completely fabricated and did not originate from him.
In a statement shared on his official X account on Monday, the former governor described the report as “untrue” despite how widely it had spread.
He said he never made such comments in any speech, interview, or post on his verified 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.
“This claim is untrue, 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.
“It is also wrong and improper to attribute to me opinion articles written by other authors, even when I share such articles on my platforms as contributions to the national conversation.
“These clarifications are crucial as we confront both irresponsible politicking and the deliberate misuse of social media for the spread of fake news.
“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.”
El-Rufai warned that the spread of false information was becoming dangerous, especially as political activities ahead of 2027 begin to gather momentum.
He stressed that media professionals and influential voices must take responsibility for verifying claims before publishing or sharing them.
He noted that the failure of some editors and commentators to verify information only fuels misinformation and public confusion.
“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.
“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.
“I wish to reiterate that no views should be attributed to me unless I have explicitly expressed them on my official social media platforms or during interviews with reputable media organisations,” the statement added.
The former governor also called on political actors and the general public to act responsibly, urging Nigerians to resist the temptation of spreading unverified political narratives.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.