DISINFO ALERT: Fake newspaper front pages with fabricated Atiku, Tinubu quotes circulate online
DISINFO ALERT: Fake newspaper front pages with fabricated Atiku, Tinubu quotes circulate online
Ahead of the 2027 elections, supporters of politicians and political parties are increasingly using social media to promote their preferred candidates — and spread false information about their opponents.
Since the presidential and national assembly election campaigns kicked off on August 19, political conversations on social media platforms have ramped up as expected.
On Wednesday, several newspaper front-page designs surfaced online, with the banner headlines attributed to Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
An X account — @HighChairOkoro — posted a picture of the front page of “The Daily Tribune”(archived here), with a banner headline that reads: “Atiku: No Nigerian will pay house rent when I become President.”
The post has generated over 500 reposts, 980 likes, and 840 comments.
A similar version of the front page bearing “Tribune” appeared on Facebook with the banner headline saying: “Atiku: I will give every Nigerian one bag of rice weekly when I become President.”
Another X account — @adeosunm — posted an image of a “Daily News” front page, also with a quote attributed to Atiku. (Archived here).
The banner headline reads: “Atiku: I will give every Nigerian one bag of rice weekly when I become President.”
FABRICATED ‘DAILY TRIBUNE’ AND ‘TRIBUNE’ COVER PAGES
The viral front pages of “The Daily Tribune” and “Tribune” were fabricated, given that there is no Nigerian newspaper organisation with that name.
The recognised outfit with a similar name is the Nigerian Tribune, one of the country’s leading national newspapers and the daily title of African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc.
Non-existent URL links as well as Facebook, Instagram, and X handles were visible on the viral newspaper front pages.
There is no evidence that Atiku made any of the claims on the viral cover pages. There are also no such reports on credible media platforms and on the former vice-president’s official social media handles.
Checks by Cable Check show that a digital newspaper in the Philippines is called “Daily Tribune” — one of the names used on the viral front pages.
On Thursday, Nigerian Tribune published a disclaimer addressing the wave of fabrication.
WHAT SPARKED THE TREND?
The concocted newspaper front page trend started after some Nigerians on X taunted Atiku over his campaign promises ahead of the 2027 elections.
The former vice-president has been speaking about policies and plans he intends to implement or reverse if elected president.
Atiku’s proposals include the return of petrol subsidy, the reopening of all Nigerian land borders, and the forgiveness of student loan debts.
The campaign promises triggered parodies, sarcastic remarks and derision from supporters of his political opponents, and subsequently, the creation of fake newspaper front pages on social media platforms.
TINUBU’S TURN?
After the cover pages went viral, some Nigerians posted another “The Daily Tribune” front page with false quotes attributed to President Bola Tinubu. (archived here).
Tinubu is the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
One of the front pages has a banner headline that reads: “Tinubu: Petrol price will sell for N5,000 per litre starting May 29, 2027.”
The quotes attributed to Tinubu were fabricated, and there is no record of the president making the comment.
The front page also has some other evidently concocted reports, such as “National Security Forces Increase Patrols to Enforce Tax Receipt Compliance”.
Nigerian Tribune has also issued another disclaimer describing the Tinubu-related front page as “fake news”.
