State of emergency: Centre disowns false claims on Zamfara

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) has discredited recent claims made by one Ibrahim Yakubu, who falsely presented himself as a representative of the organization.

In a statement released on Thursday, CDD-West Africa expressed concern over a publication in which Yakubu, allegedly speaking on behalf of the organization, accused Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal of anti-democratic actions against members of the State House of Assembly. Yakubu also urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a six-month state of emergency in Zamfara State, similar to the one recently imposed in Rivers State.

Categorically distancing itself from Yakubu, the organization denied any affiliation with him. CDD-West Africa, currently led by Dr. Dauda Garuba, emphasized that all official communications are issued only through its verified platforms.

The statement read in part:

“While we respect the right to free speech and association, CDD-West Africa has no connection with the group or individuals making these claims. Our organization, headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria, is a nonpartisan think tank committed to rigorous research, evidence-based advocacy, and the promotion of democratic governance and development across West Africa.

“We do not know or recognize Ibrahim Yakubu, nor do we endorse the statements attributed to him in the referenced publication. This impersonation is misleading and unacceptable, as it misrepresents our mission and undermines public trust. We are considering regulatory measures to address this issue and are engaging with relevant authorities to safeguard our institutional identity.

“We urge media outlets and the public to verify the authenticity of any statements attributed to CDD-West Africa. Official communications are issued exclusively through our verified platforms and bear the signature of our leadership or authorized spokespersons.

“We unequivocally dissociate ourselves from the comments and claims made by this impostor group and caution against lending them any credibility.”;