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Several social media users shared a post claiming that Nigeria’s 2027 presidential candidate from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, promised to abolish house rent for Nigerians if elected in 2027.
The claim, which had circulated on X, featured an image purportedly showing the front page of a newspaper called The Daily Tribune.
As of September 2, 2026, the post had garnered 209 reposts, 164 quotes, 680 likes, 98,200 views and 90 bookmarks. While many had lifted it and posted it on several social media platforms.
A Facebook user had also shared the same image, claiming that ‘Atiku would compel landlords to stop collecting rent from tenants if he becomes president.’
According to the claim, ‘Atiku would introduce a law prohibiting landlords from collecting rent from tenants and that landlords who violate the proposed law would face up to 10 years in prison.’
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However, another X user challenged the authenticity of the claim, describing it as a false statement attributed to Atiku Abubakar.
The claim has gained attention online at a time when housing affordability and rising rental costs remain important concerns for many Nigerians and if left unverified. Such a claim could shape perceptions of Atiku Abubakar’s proposed policies and potentially influence public opinion ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The claim also presents a specific policy proposal and attributes it directly to a major political figure. Such claims require verification, particularly when they circulate widely on social media alongside what appears to be a newspaper report.
Given the potential of the claim to mislead the public about a presidential candidate’s position on housing and rental policy, ROUNDCHECK decided to check further whether Atiku Abubakar actually made the statement attributed to him.
Who is Atiku Abubakar?
Atiku Abubakar is a Nigerian politician, businessman and former Vice President of Nigeria. He was born on November 25, 1946, in Jada, present-day Adamawa State. He is the 2027 Presidential candidate.
He served as Vice President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Atiku has contested the Nigerian presidency several times. Most recently, he was the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election, where he finished second behind Bola Tinubu.
Before rising to prominence in politics, Atiku worked with the Nigeria Customs Service and later ventured into business, with investments spanning education and other sectors. He founded the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, Adamawa State.
ROUNDCHECK Findings
ROUNDCHECK searched through credible media platforms and Atiku Abubakar’s publicly available statements for evidence that he promised to abolish house rent for Nigerians if elected president in 2027.
The search found no credible report or statement from Atiku in which he promised to stop landlords from collecting rent from tenants or threatened landlords with a 10-year prison sentence for violating such a law.
ROUNDCHECK discovered that Atiku only promised to release Local Government Funds directly if elected president in 2027.
Although newspapers with names similar to The Daily Tribune exist in countries such as the Philippines and Bahrain– not related to Nigeria.
ROUNDCHECK examined the newspaper front-page image used to support the claim and found no credible evidence that The Daily Tribune, as presented in the image, is an existing or verifiable newspaper publication in Nigeria.
Therefore, searches for the newspaper publication, including the alleged report and its attribution to Atiku Abubakar, produced no credible records confirming its authenticity.
In addition, ROUNDCHECK reviewed Atiku’s publicly available policy positions and statements on housing and related economic issues here, here, and here.
While he has discussed issues affecting Nigerians’ living conditions and the economy, no evidence was found linking him to a policy proposal that would completely abolish house rent or criminalise landlords for collecting rent.
ROUNDCHECK also searched Atiku Abubakar’s official social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, and X) and other publicly available sources for the alleged announcement but found no corresponding statement.
The claim therefore appears to be based on an unauthenticated newspaper image rather than a verifiable statement from Atiku Abubakar. The front page of the newspaper looks doctored as a form of propaganda.
A similar popular newspaper daily, Nigerian Tribune has also debunked and distanced itself from the front page headline.
Verdict
The claim is INCORRECT. ROUNDCHECK found no credible evidence that Atiku Abubakar promised to abolish house rent for Nigerians, prohibit landlords from collecting rent, or impose a 10-year prison sentence on landlords if elected president in 2027.
The newspaper image used to support the claim could also not be traced to a verifiable publication or credible report.
