FACT-CHECK: Did Atiku Say No Nigerian Will Pay House Rent When he Becomes President?

BY: Abdulrasheed Akere 

Claim:

A viral claim ascribed to Atiku Abubakar says: “No Nigerian will pay house rent when I become President.”

Verdict:

The claim that no Nigerian will pay house rent when Atiku becomes President is fabricated. 

Full Text:

A claim has been circulating online asserting that Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the 2027 election under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) promised that no Nigerian will pay house rent when he becomes the President. The claim appeared on a newspaper which resembled that of Tribune and it dated Tuesday, September 1, 2026. The head of the newspaper shows The Daily Tribune and the headline says, “Atiku: No Nigerian will pay house rent when I become President.”

The claim has gained widespread attention and is being reshared by users on different social media platforms. A user, @EsutEssentials shared it on Instagram, Olore Agbaye Adio shared it on Facebook, among others. While reviewing the comments, it was discovered that many people believed the claim while some regarded it as mere political promises. 

Verification:

FactCheckAfrica subjected the claim’s image to Google Reverse Image and found out different visual matches which contradict the Nigerian Tribune’s newspaper format. The original Tribune’s newspaper usually carries NIGERIAN TRIBUNE on the front page, not The Daily Tribune as found on the claim’s image. The text font used for the claim is also contrary to what Nigerian Tribune is known for. Also, the logo of Nigerian Tribune is also missing on the claim’s image which indicates fabrication. The placement of date, establishment date, arrangement of news headlines are other notable things that contradict the newspaper. 

We reviewed websites of reputable media outlets including Nigerian Tribune but found no such news published. A review of the official X handle of Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) where he used to post his political engagement does not show any news related to the claim.

Additionally, a digital verification tool led us to an X handle of Abdul Rasheeth (@Rasheethe), a Media Assistant to Atiku Abubakar who disclaimed the claim. He posted, “DISCLAIMER Our attention has been drawn to a fabricated statement circulating online, falsely attributed to His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, claiming that “No Nigerian will pay rent when I become President.” This claim is entirely false and does not reflect the views or policy position of His Excellency. We urge the public to disregard the misinformation and rely solely on statements issued through his official communication channels.”

Conclusion: 

After examining the claim and finding no evidence to back it, FactCheckAfrica can conclude that the claim is fabricated.