Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice President, has denied any connection with a media consultant named Kola Johnson
The denial comes after Kola Johnson reportedly released a statement on Wednesday claiming that an Atiku administration would protect Yoruba interests if he is elected president in 2027.
Atiku, through his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, described the statement as “false and offensive,” asserting that it was part of a deliberate effort to discredit him.
In the statement issued on Thursday, Atiku accused “faceless mercenaries” of circulating unauthorized publications to smear his image. It specifically addressed Kola Johnson, referred to as a “self-styled media consultant,” saying the individual falsely claimed that an Atiku administration would be dominated by a single ethnic group.
The statement read, “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 unauthorised statements on Atiku. Particularly offensive is the false claim attributed to this individual that an Atiku administration would be dominated by a single ethnic group. 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.”
The statement also emphasized that official information about Atiku is released only through his Media Adviser or Special Assistant on Public Communications. “Editors and media gatekeepers are strongly advised to verify with the Atiku Media Office before publication,” it added.
Reports had emerged on Wednesday suggesting that Atiku assured stakeholders in the South-West geopolitical zone that their interests would remain central to his policy direction if elected president in 2027. The reports, quoting Kola Johnson, claimed Atiku highlighted his long-standing marital and cultural ties to the region, noting his marriage to a Yoruba woman in the 1970s and the four children they share.
