Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed as false a viral report claiming he commented on which region should produce Nigeria’s president in 2027.
The report, which circulated widely on social media, alleged that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain said it was the South’s turn to produce the next president.
Reacting on Monday via his verified X handle, El-Rufai described the claim as fake, stressing that he never made such remarks in any public engagement.
“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,” he said.
He explained that none of his speeches, interviews or social media posts contained such views, noting that he maintains verifiable platforms through which he directly expresses his personal opinions.
El-Rufai also faulted the practice of attributing opinion articles written by other authors to him, even when such articles are shared on his platforms as part of broader 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 former governor urged journalists and the public to verify information before publishing or sharing it, warning that misinformation erodes public trust and damages public discourse.
“In this age of turmoil and falsehood, the obligation to verify information before posting or publishing has become more important than ever,” he added, cautioning against what he described as the growing spread of fiction and fakery on social media.
El-Rufai reiterated that no opinion should be attributed to him unless it is clearly expressed on his official social media platforms or during interviews with credible media organisations.
