PRNigeria Fact-Check Debunks Claims of Oloriegbe, Ilorin Emirate Endorsing Saliu Mustapha, Tinubu for 2027
A fact-check by PRNigeria has debunked widely circulated claims that a prominent politician, Dr. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, and the Ilorin Emirate had endorsed Senator Saliu Mustapha for the 2027 Kwara State governorship election and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term.
The viral reports, amplified by some online platforms, alleged that “Oloriegbe” backed Mustapha’s governorship ambition, while the Ilorin Emirate Council had thrown its weight behind both Mustapha and President Tinubu.
However, findings by PRNigeria revealed that the claims were misleading and based on misrepresentation of identities and institutional authority.
According to the fact-check, the individual who announced the endorsement was Dr. Yakub Yahaya Oloriegbe, National Coordinator of the Ilorin Emirate Political Advisory Council (IEPAC), and not Senator Dr. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, a former Kwara Central lawmaker who is himself a governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
PRNigeria clarified that although the two share a family name and are related as cousins, they occupy entirely different positions in public life.
The report noted that conflating the retired school principal with the former senator created a false impression that a leading contender had endorsed a rival candidate in the same race.
The fact-check also challenged claims that IEPAC represents the apex political body of the Ilorin Emirate.
According to PRNigeria, the council was only established in 2025 and does not possess the institutional legitimacy to speak on behalf of the Emirate’s elders and stakeholders.
The report pointed out that the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) remains the most recognised and authoritative socio-cultural organisation representing the Emirate.
It recalled that during IEPAC’s courtesy visit to the IEDPU, the umbrella body did not confer any official status on the council but instead urged all political actors from the Emirate to prioritise unity and collective interest.
Both Senator Oloriegbe and Senator Saliu Mustapha are influential figures from the Ilorin Emirate and have represented Kwara Central at different times, making any claim of endorsement particularly sensitive amid the intensifying contest for the APC governorship ticket.
PRNigeria noted that attributing such endorsements to the Emirate carries significant political implications due to its historical and cultural influence in Kwara State.
Based on its findings, PRNigeria concluded that the claims were misleading.
“The ‘Oloriegbe’ referenced in the reports is not Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe but Dr. Yakub Yahaya Oloriegbe, a retired school principal acting in his capacity as coordinator of a newly formed group,” the report stated.
It added that IEPAC lacks the standing to speak for the Ilorin Emirate, dismissing assertions that the Emirate had officially endorsed any candidate.
The fact-check emphasised that the reports created a false narrative suggesting that a prominent governorship aspirant had backed a rival and that a traditional institution had taken a formal political position.
PRNigeria reiterated its commitment to combating misinformation through verification, open-source intelligence, and cross-checking of claims across credible sources.
Read the PRNigeria Fact-Check: Did Oloriegbe and Ilorin Emirate Endorse Saliu Mustapha for Governor and Tinubu for President in 2027?