…denies links to impostor group

By Favour Ulebor, Abuja

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) has cautioned against the spread of fake news, disowning a group falsely claiming to represent the organisation in a widely circulated report.

The group, led by one Ibrahim Yakubu, was cited in a Daily Post article published on March 24, 2025, titled “Zamfara: Gov Lawal Under Fire Over Alleged Anti-Democratic Actions Against Assembly Members.” The report attributed statements to Yakubu’s group, suggesting an affiliation with CDD-West Africa.

According to the organisation, the misleading claims have since been republished by multiple media platforms, including New Telegraph, Pulse Nigeria, and Legit.ng, further amplifying misinformation.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, CDD-West Africa’s Director, Dr. Dauda Garuba, categorically denied any links with Yakubu or his group, describing the impersonation as “misleading and unacceptable.”

He warned that such misrepresentation distorts the organisation’s stance on governance issues and erodes public trust.

He said, “As a respected think tank, we categorically state that this group is in no way affiliated with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa),” Garuba said.

CDD-West Africa referenced its March 20, 2025, statement in which it strongly condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, arguing that such measures undermine democratic processes.

“It is, therefore, inconsistent and entirely false to suggest that the same organisation would now support a state of emergency in Zamfara State,” Garuba added.

He further stated that the organisation is considering legal and regulatory actions to address the impersonation and protect its institutional identity.

“We are engaging relevant authorities to ensure that such misrepresentations are addressed appropriately,” he said.

The organisation urged journalists and the public to verify statements attributed to CDD-West Africa before publication, emphasizing that its official communications are only issued through verified platforms and bear the signature of its leadership or authorised spokespersons.

“We urge media organisations and the public to exercise due diligence by confirming the authenticity of statements before dissemination. Misinformation of this nature can be damaging and must be avoided,” Garuba noted.

CDD-West Africa also warned against lending legitimacy to the impostor group’s claims and reaffirmed its commitment to promoting democratic governance across West Africa.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we unequivocally dissociate ourselves from the comments and claims made by this impostor group and strongly caution against granting them any legitimacy,” Garuba stated.

The organisation, headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria, reiterated its status as a non-partisan research institution dedicated to evidence-based advocacy and governance reforms.