The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum YRLF has raised concerns over a viral report alleging a secret political meeting in Saudi Arabia between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the forum’s president, Akin Malaolu, urged the public and media to exercise caution in spreading what he described as an unverified and weakly supported claim. The report in question alleged that both political figures held a clandestine meeting to discuss financial backing and strategic alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Malaolu criticized the report for lacking the fundamental principles of credible investigative journalism. According to him, the story relied solely on anonymous sources without presenting any verifiable evidence to support its claims. He stressed that allegations involving high level political coordination require strong and multiple layers of confirmation.
He pointed out that there were no travel records, official documents, or independent confirmations to substantiate the alleged meeting. In his view, such omissions significantly weaken the credibility of the report and raise questions about its intent.
The YRLF president also warned that as Nigeria gradually approaches the 2027 election cycle, the public space may become flooded with speculative political narratives. He described the situation as a growing trend where unverified stories are circulated to test public reaction or influence perception.
While acknowledging that anonymous sources can play a role in journalism, Malaolu maintained that they should not replace proper verification. He emphasized that stories of such magnitude should be clearly presented as unconfirmed if there is no supporting evidence.
The forum concluded by urging media organisations and the public to prioritise accuracy and responsibility, especially when dealing with politically sensitive information that could shape national discourse.
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