Fact-Check: No Credible Evidence Governor Zulum Threatened to Rig Elections for Tinubu

Claim: An X user, @BiaPulse, shared a post alleging that Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum threatened to rig elections in favour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu if Northerners refused to vote for him because of hardship and hunger.

Verdict: Unproven

Full Story

An X user, @BiaPulse, recently shared a post alleging that Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum threatened to rig elections for President Tinubu if Northerners refused to vote for him because of hardship and hunger.

The post gained traction on the platform, recording more than 21,000 views, 204 likes, and several reactions at the time of this investigation.

Several users appeared to believe the allegation and expressed disappointment over the purported statement.

For instance, an X user, @aliisa220143, described it as a “highly unfortunate statement from you, Baba Zulum,” warning that it could cause upheaval and destabilise Nigeria.

Similarly, another user, @ChuksImperial, expressed disappointment, saying the alleged statement had changed his perception of Zulum and raised questions about the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, some users questioned the claim and urged caution until it could be verified.

An X user, @LEOBLASTY, expressed doubt that the governor could have made such a statement publicly.

Another user, @pledge2nigeria, urged others to give the governor the benefit of the doubt until the claim was verified.

The allegation concerned Babagana Zulum, a two-term Borno State governor and prominent APC member. However, NDRFactCheck found no credible evidence that he made the statement.

Verification

NDRFactCheck searched for the exact quotation and conducted a reverse-image search as part of its investigation. These efforts did not identify a credible news report, authentic recording, or other verifiable evidence establishing that Governor Zulum made the alleged threat.

However, reports published in November 2024 documented Zulum’s comments on President Tinubu’s proposed tax reforms and their potential implications for Northern Nigeria.

In a report titled “Tinubu’s tax reform will destroy the North – Gov. Zulum,” Vanguard reported the governor’s concerns about the proposed reforms. Similarly, News Central reported his warnings about the possible effects of the reforms on poverty and economic hardship in the region. Zulum also highlighted the North’s contribution to Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election.

However, these reports do not substantiate the viral allegation that the governor threatened to rig an election if Northerners refused to vote for the president.

Additional checks of the governor’s social media accounts found no statement supporting the allegation.

In July 2025, Zulum used his verified X account to dismiss a rumour about his alleged defection from the APC, describing it as “a speculation from the imagination of wishful thinkers” and reaffirming his loyalty to the party.

Although the governor has publicly supported the APC and President Tinubu, that support does not prove he threatened to manipulate election results.

Conclusion

NDRFactCheck found no credible evidence that Governor Babagana Zulum threatened to rig elections for President Tinubu if Northerners refused to vote for him because of hardship and hunger.

While Zulum has publicly discussed economic hardship and the political implications of government policies, no verifiable evidence links him to the alleged threat.

Therefore, the claim remains unproven and should not be presented as an authentic statement by the governor without further evidence.

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