FACT-CHECK: Viral Video of Atiku, Tinubu Discussing Tinubu’s Past US Records Is FALSE
By: Peter Emmanuel |
CLAIM
A viral video circulating on Facebook by Naija Solihmars TV, portrays former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and 2027 Presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress (adc) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu having a one-on-one heated discussion about Tinubu’s past US records, fuel subsidy, the 2027 presidential election and Tinubu’s age.
FULL TEXT
A viral video circulating on social media depicts former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Tinubu in what appears to be a private one-on-one conversation.
In the video, Atiku is heard questioning Tinubu over why he was investigating his past US records, while Tinubu responds that Atiku should not be doing so during an election period.
The purported conversation also touches on Atiku’s call for the release of Tinubu’s US records, the removal and possible restoration of fuel subsidy, the political influence of the two politicians, Tinubu’s age and their chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.
The video presents the exchange as though the two politicians actually sat down for the conversation.
VERIFICATION
DNN FactCheck examined the claims in the video and compared them with publicly available statements and records concerning Atiku, Tinubu and the issues raised in the purported discussion.
The verification found no credible evidence that Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu held the one-on-one conversation depicted in the video.
There is, however, a real political dispute over Tinubu’s past US records. In a report by Punch Newspaper, on August 23, 2026, Atiku called on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation to release, where legally permissible, records relating to Tinubu. Atiku argued that Nigerians had a right to know the contents of the records.
Atiku also continued to raise the issue publicly in September. In a statement reported on September 4, he challenged Tinubu to open his records for public scrutiny and referred to Tinubu’s intervention in a US court case involving FBI and DEA records.
The US records issue is therefore a genuine subject of political debate. But DNN FactCheck found no credible report, official statement, interview or recording showing that Atiku and Tinubu discussed the matter in the manner presented in the viral video.
The video also refers to fuel subsidy and portrays Tinubu as admitting that his position on the issue was changed to win Nigerians’ support. There is a real disagreement between the two politicians over the policy. Atiku has pledged to restore petrol subsidy if elected, while the Tinubu administration has defended its removal. The State House has publicly criticised Atiku’s position on subsidy restoration.
However, there is no credible evidence that Tinubu made the statement attributed to him in the video that he changed his position on fuel subsidy because he wanted to “win Nigerians’ heart.”
The video also contains a discussion about Tinubu’s age, with the character representing Atiku allegedly claiming that Tinubu is 90 or approaching 100.
This is false. The State House recorded Tinubu’s 74th birthday on March 29, 2026. An official birthday message issued that day stated that he was celebrating his 74th birthday.
The age exchange in the video is therefore another unsupported element of the purported conversation.
The current dispute over Tinubu’s US records also needs context. The US case concerns a Freedom of Information Act request for government records. The FBI submitted records relating to a 1990s investigation to US District Judge Beryl Howell on August 28, 2026, for review under seal. Reports on the case have stressed that the court records do not establish criminal wrongdoing by Tinubu.
The Presidency has likewise described the matter as a civil records-disclosure dispute rather than a criminal trial or criminal charge against Tinubu.
VERDICT
FALSE
WHAT WE FOUND
The viral video falsely presents a purported one-on-one conversation between Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu as though it actually occurred.
The issues mentioned in the video are partly based on real political developments. Atiku has publicly demanded the release of Tinubu’s US records, while both politicians and their supporters have engaged in a political dispute over fuel subsidy and the 2027 election.
However, there is no credible evidence that the two politicians held the conversation shown in the video or made the statements attributed to them.
The claim about Tinubu being 90 or 99 years old is also false. Official State House records show that Tinubu turned 74 on March 29, 2026.
CONCLUSION
The viral video is FALSE. Although it draws from genuine political controversies involving Atiku, Tinubu’s US records, fuel subsidy and the 2027 election, there is no evidence that Atiku and Tinubu had the one-on-one discussion portrayed in the video.
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