Fact-Check: Did Sahara Reporters Publisher Sowore Fraternise with NSA Ribadu in Yola Adamawa State?
Claim: A viral video circulating on social media claims that former presidential candidate and Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore, recently visited the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu at his residence in Yola, Adamawa State thus covertly working for President Tinubu as a controlled opposition.
The text accompanying the video reads:
“Calling politicians unprintable names doesn’t mean they aren’t friends. Be wise. This is Omoyele Sowore with Nuhu Ribadu in Ribadu’s house in Yola. Don’t go and kill yourself fighting someone else’s battle.”
In the footage, Sowore, accompanied by some men, is seen greeting Ribadu respectfully with raised arms. He says in a friendly tone:
“Nuhu Ribadu, it’s good to see you. I’m now right here in Yola — this used to be my hometown… This man jailed the Inspector General of Police, a senior police officer…”
Nuhu Ribadu, dressed in a white agbada and black cap comically greeted him “Presidential candidate”, while hugging him.
They then moved towards an adjacent building, and Sowore respectfully opened the door for Ribadu to enter.
The claim has sparked controversy, with many questioning Sowore’s longstanding anti-establishment stance.
Omoyele Sowore’s stance toward politicians and Nigerian leaders who form the establishment is often seen as openly confrontational, deeply critical, and uncompromising. He positions himself as a radical challenger to the status quo, often using sharp, unapologetic language to call out corruption, misgovernance, and what he perceives as the failures of Nigeria’s ruling elite.
Verification: Considering the political weight such a meeting would carry with the unlikeliness that it would go unreported, PRNigeria fact check conducted an extensive keyword search online. Findings reveal no coverage from any major Nigerian news outlet confirming a recent meeting between the NSA and Sowore. The finding showed that the video in question began trending on social media platforms a few days ago, coinciding with the mass defection from the opposition party, PDP to APC.
PRNigeria then conducted a reverse video search. Multiple sources, including past YouTube uploads and Sahara Reporters archives, reveal that the video dates back to early 2018. This was when Sowore’s campaign train stormed Yola for his first presidential bid under the African Action Congress (AAC).
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A video uploaded by Sahara TV where Sowore was seen campaigning on the streets of Yola and re-echoing the same phrase he told Ribadu, that “Yola is my town” having served there as an NYSC member in 1994/95, corroborates this finding.
Similarly, a scan through Sowore’s verified X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts shows no evidence of a recent visit to Yola or any meeting with Nuhu Ribadu.
In fact:
- Five days ago, Sowore was spotted at the birthday of the wife of the SDP presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections.
- On April 25, he made a statement condemning political repression and referencing the travel ban, during which he was spotted at an Abuja Federal High Court in an effort to recover his International Passport, which Justice MS Liman had confiscated.
- Sowore has also recently been featured in interviews with local and international media discussing insecurity and youth activism — with no mention of the NSA or Adamawa.
On the other hand, publicly available information from reputable news sources such as The Nation, Premium Times, and Channels TV confirm that NSA Ribadu was:
- In Benue State on April 22, where he led a federal delegation to commiserate with victims of renewed herdsmen attacks.
- On April 24, he met with the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Abuja, and released a statement on national security strategy adjustments.
- No credible report has placed Ribadu in Yola in recent weeks.
These documented appearances clearly place Ribadu in Abuja and Benue, not Adamawa.
Conclusion: Findings by PRNigeria reveal that the footage video purportedly showing Omoyele Sowore visiting National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu at his residence in Yola is not recent; it dates back to 20018 when Sowore’s campaign train stormed Yola for his first presidential bid under the African Action Congress (AAC). Current verification places Ribadu in Benue and Abuja, and Sowore in Abuja Nigeria, based on their respective public records and social media updates.
The video has resurfaced on social media platforms, often without proper context, leading to misconceptions about its recency and implications, given Sowore’s well-known critical stance toward the Nigerian political establishment.
Verdict: The PRNigeria fact check concludes that the video is outdated content used out of context and is, therefore, MISLEADING.
By PRNigeria
