How False Tinubu Narrative Triggered National Outrage Over PTI Attack

…As Atiku Condemns Assault, Insiders Reveal Viral Claim That Governor Oborevwori’s Aide was Beaten for Praising Tinubu Is False

By Chike Ofili
A KTH Daily investigation has uncovered that the viral claim alleging Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s Protocol aide, Simon Mudi, popularly known as Temple, was assaulted for praising President Bola Tinubu at a political meeting in Delta State is false, with multiple sources insisting that the violence stemmed from a long-running local political rivalry rather than hostility towards the President.

The misleading narrative, which spread rapidly across social media and eventually drew reactions from prominent political figures, was triggered by a Facebook post by Peter Obi supporter and Nollywood Filmmaker, Dickson Iroegbu, who claimed that Mudi was attacked after declaring that President Tinubu was “the best president Nigeria has ever produced” during an APC stakeholders’ meeting at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Conference Centre, Effurun.

The claim quickly gained traction online, fuelling widespread outrage and prompting accusations that supporters of the President could no longer freely express their political views without being attacked.

However, findings by KTH Daily indicate that the account bore little resemblance to what transpired at the event.

According to multiple party leaders, security sources, and participants who spoke to KTH Daily, the meeting itself was peaceful and ended with a unanimous endorsement of President Bola Tinubu, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and other APC candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The endorsement motion was moved by APC founding leader, Chief O’tega Emerhor, seconded by Hon. Halims Agoda and adopted through a voice vote conducted by Senator Ede Dafinone under the supervision of Delta APC Chairman, Chief Solomon Arenyeka.

Stakeholders also unanimously endorsed Senator Dafinone, House of Representatives candidates, and State House of Assembly candidates, while directing party members to immediately begin grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

Participants said the meeting focused on party unity, reconciliation, and preparations for the next election, with speakers urging members to put past disagreements behind them.

Top sources familiar with the events told KTH Daily that there was no disagreement over President Tinubu’s endorsement, insisting that the resolution enjoyed overwhelming support from those present.

Rather, the violence reportedly erupted later at a bar within the sprawling PTI Conference Centre after supporters loyal to Mudi and those allegedly aligned with Delta State Commissioner for Works, Reuben Izeze, became involved in a confrontation.

According to the sources, both political figures hail from Ughelli South Local Government Area and have been associated with an intense local political rivalry.

What began as a confrontation between rival supporters allegedly degenerated into a free-for-all, during which chairs were hurled and Mudi was physically assaulted.

The sources maintained that the clash had no connection whatsoever with President Tinubu or the unanimous endorsement adopted earlier by party stakeholders.

Despite this, the false version of events spread rapidly across social media, portraying the incident as evidence that Mudi had been beaten simply for defending President Tinubu.

The narrative soon travelled beyond Delta State and attracted national political attention.

Among those who reacted was former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who condemned the assault, relying on media reports that Mudi had been attacked while campaigning for President Tinubu’s re-election.

Atiku described the attack as unacceptable and inconsistent with democratic values, stressing that no Nigerian should be assaulted for expressing a political opinion.

While acknowledging widespread public frustration over economic hardship, inflation, unemployment, and declining living standards under the Tinubu administration, the former Vice President warned that violence could never be justified as a political tool.

“Our greatest weapon against bad governance is not our fists but our votes,” Atiku said, urging Nigerians to reject governments through the ballot box rather than physical confrontation.

He also called on youths across the country to remain peaceful and law-abiding, insisting that democratic change must be achieved through constitutional means.

Meanwhile, the Delta State Government has condemned the violence and directed security agencies to identify and prosecute everyone involved in the attack.

Government officials maintained that no individual, regardless of political affiliation or public office, should resort to violence to settle political disagreements.

Observers say the incident has once again underscored how unverified social media claims can rapidly reshape public perception, influence national political discourse, and trigger reactions from leading political actors before the true circumstances surrounding an event are fully established.