CLAIM
A photo of a newspaper front page dated 1 September, 2026 has been circulating on social media. It is branded as The Daily Tribune and describes itself as “Nigeria’s most informative newspaper.”
The headline reads: “Atiku: No Nigerian will pay house rent when I become president”. The article claims that ADC presidential candidate and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has promised to impose a 10-year jail term on landlords who collect rent from tenants if elected in the January 2027 general election.
VERIFICATION
The newspaper does not exist in Nigeria:
Checks of Nigerian media directories, websites, and social media pages show no record of a publication called _The Daily Tribune_ operating in Nigeria. No print or online edition could be located.
The name matches a Philippine paper, not a Nigerian one:
There is a Daily Tribune based in the Philippines with the website http://www.tribune.net.ph. It has no connection to Nigeria and carries no story about Atiku Abubakar.
No credible record of the quote:
The statement attributed to Atiku does not appear on his official channels, ADC party platforms, or in any reputable Nigerian media outlet for 1 September, 2026.
Official denial:
Abdul Rasheeth, one of Atiku Abubakar’s media aides, addressed the claim on X: “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.”
VERDICT
There is no evidence that Atiku Abubakar or the ADC promised to abolish house rent. The Daily Tribune front page dated 1 September 2026 is fabricated, false and misleading. The claim is untrue.
