Former presidential aspirant Adamu Garba of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied viral social media reports claiming he has left the party.
The rumours originated from a post on X (formerly Twitter) by user @tenibegiloju202, which stated that Garba had “dumped” the APC, removed the party’s flag from his office, and criticised the leadership under President Bola Tinubu for derailing from the people’s interests. The post, which was presented as “BREAKING,” suggested Garba’s departure was imminent.
Garba directly refuted the claims in his own statement on X. He described the reports as “false and misleading” and attributed them to coordinated misinformation campaigns. “These bot-trons want to drag me back on this street with their mercantile fake news. I’m still very much a full member of the APC,” he wrote. He further appealed for privacy, asking the public to “allow me to write my books and do my business in peace.”
The incident highlights the persistent challenge of misinformation on Nigerian social media, particularly regarding high-profile political figures and party alignments. Garba, a vocal and long-time party loyalist who contested the APC presidential primary in 2022, remains a notable figure within the party’s northwest political structure.
While Garba’s denial is unequivocal, the spread of such unverified claims often precedes real political defections in Nigeria’s dynamic landscape, making swift clarifications necessary to manage public perception. His emphasis on focusing on personal affairs suggests a desire to disengage from speculative political discourse. The episode underscores the need for media and the public to verify sensational political news, especially during periods of internal party tension or ahead of future electoral cycles. No formal complaint regarding the original post has been reported.
