The media office of Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka has strongly denied allegations linking him to a recent protest at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters, describing the claims as a “malicious and deliberately misleading” attempt at character assassination.
In a statement released on Wednesday by Prince Tijani Dauda, Head of Media and Public Communications for Alhaji Ajaka, the team dissociated the former governorship candidate from the activities of what it termed “faceless political smear merchants.”
The rebuttal comes in response to a publication attributed to a group called the “Igala Vanguard,” which had earlier accused Ajaka of orchestrating the protest.
No Hand in Protests
“For the avoidance of doubt, Alhaji Yakubu Murtala Ajaka did not authorize, sponsor, direct, commission, or coordinate the protest,” the statement read. “Any attempt to attribute the action of independent citizens to him is false, irresponsible, and calculated to mislead the public.”
Dauda emphasized that peaceful protest is a constitutional right of all Nigerians. He argued that Igala youths and other citizens do not require the permission or sponsorship of any political actor to exercise their right to assemble and express concerns regarding their communities.
“If citizens independently decide to speak out on issues that affect them, why should their action automatically be attributed to Murtala Ajaka?” the statement queried.
Warning Against ‘Phantom’ Associations
The media office issued a stern warning to those operating under “pseudo-identities” and “fictitious associations” to desist from using Ajaka’s name for political propaganda and blackmail.
“There is a limit to how long pseudo-groups and faceless platforms can be used to malign people without accountability. Anyone who wishes to make allegations against him should have the courage to do so openly, in their real name, with facts that can withstand public scrutiny,” Dauda added.
Respect for INEC
The statement further clarified that Alhaji Ajaka maintains high regard for the INEC Chairman and the Commission. It noted that Ajaka respects the “enormous responsibility” entrusted to the electoral body and remains confident in the Chairman’s ability to act with fairness, professionalism, and due regard for the law.
The media office urged the public to disregard the “manufactured controversies” and remain guided by the facts.
