Claim: An X user claimed that the Sultan of Sokoto publicly endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid during a live television appearance.
Verdict: Misleading. The Sultan’s remarks were taken out of context. He commended President Tinubu for establishing the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and expressed support for the government’s livestock reforms, but did not endorse him.
Full Text
Amid the political discourse surrounding the upcoming 2027 general elections in Nigeria, some social media users have increasingly circulated claims attributing political endorsements to prominent traditional and religious leaders.
On Aug. 1, 2026, an X user, HABIBU YUSUF SODANGI (@HabibuYSodangi), claimed that the Sultan of Sokoto publicly declared President Bola Tinubu as the only acceptable candidate and demanded the creation of a Fulani commission.
The caption of the post (archived here) reads, “Sultan of Fulani Sokoto was on live TV saying, Whether you like it or not, Tinubu is our only choice, and we want him to create a Fulani commission for us or a ministry so that this banditry will stop. Are you getting the point, or should I explain it further?”
As of Aug. 2, 2026, the post had generated 3,691 views, 47 replies, and 52 reposts.
The claim attracted heated reactions.
One X user, Aku Obinna (@AkuObinna18701), wrote, “What do Fulani bring to the national table? This useless country is overdue, needs to be divided into pieces, everybody on your own.”
Another user, OUT OF EXPERIENCE (@outexperienc), commented, “Omo the Agenda is shifting to another level and getting more interesting. Jihadists govt is taking over Nigeria soon. That’s the message.”
However, another user, Hamza (@aminuhs), questioned the authenticity of the claim.
“Which TV was that, date and time of the session? None! This is called slander, and it’s punishable by law! You’ll find yourself in jail one day.”
We also found other Facebook users sharing the same claim here, here, here, and here.
Given the claim’s political sensitivity and its potential to mislead the public, DUBAWA investigated it.
Verification
DUBAWA first conducted a keyword search using key phrases from the claim but found no credible reports supporting the assertion.
However, we traced the viral claim to a video recorded during the opening ceremony of the 2026 National Conference of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) held in Abuja on Wednesday, July 30, 2026.
A review of the full speech shows that the Sultan was not discussing the 2027 presidential election or endorsing President Tinubu for a second term.
Instead, he was commending President Tinubu for establishing the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, describing it as an unprecedented step for the livestock sector.
Translated from Hausa, the Sultan said, “Whether you like it or not, honestly, this is something that has never been done before. We must thank him, support him further, so he can continue the good work he is doing in this country.”
He also thanked the President for constituting the Presidential Livestock Reforms Committee and expressed optimism that the reforms would benefit both herders and farming communities.
Nowhere in the speech did the Sultan say that “Tinubu is our only choice,” or urged Nigerians to vote for him in 2027.
DUBAWA also found that the News Agency of Nigeria and Tribune Newspaper reported the same event. The duo’s report contains no reference to an endorsement of Tinubu’s re-election.
Conclusion
The claim that the Sultan of Sokoto declared that “Tinubu is our only choice” and called on Nigerians to vote for him for a second term is misleading.