The Democracy Watch Initiative (DWI), has dismissed reports that the Emir of Katsina publicly rebuked the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, during a recent visit to the monarch’s palace.

The organisation described the report as unverified and misleading, insisting that the visit was part of consultations with traditional rulers to seek their prayers, blessings and counsel ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Deputy National Chairman of DWI, Hon. Musa Adam, said an article by Comrade Ibrahim Muhammad Sani, which claimed that the emir delivered “four bitter truths” to Yari and his delegation, presented unsubstantiated allegations as facts.

Adam said Yari led a delegation of political leaders on visits to the palaces of the Emirs of Gwandu, Katsina, Daura and Zaria, where the traditional rulers received them and offered prayers for peace, unity and the success of Nigeria’s democratic process.

He said: “Senator Yari told the emirs that he came to seek their prayers, blessings and counsel. This was a respectful consultation with a revered traditional institution, as is customary in Nigerian public life.

“However, the article relies on an unnamed “someone inside palace” to fabricate, polish and deodorize lies to spew deceits and propaganda to score political points. It offers no recording; no named witness and no credible news outlet has reported the remarks.

“Palace visits of this kind are attended by many people and covered by the press. Comments of such nature attributed to the respected monarch should not be accepted without evidence.

“Similarly, the claim that the APC is “fighting” in Katsina is contradicted by the delegation itself. The delegation included both former Katsina governors, Aminu Bello Masari and Ibrahim Shema. Governor Dikko Radda also led the Director General to the Emir of Daura, seeking the emirate’s support for President Tinubu’s re-election. These are not the actions of a divided team.

“Further, the claim that the government has “done nothing” on insecurity is false. The Federal Government is working with the Katsina State Government on banditry. President Tinubu approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards for Katsina, to be trained and equipped to work alongside the military, police, DSS and local vigilantes, particularly in forested and remote areas used as hideouts by criminal gangs.

“Governor Radda also commended the Federal Government for increasing the deployment of military personnel, police officers and DSS operatives to the state. The government recognises that more must be done. Insecurity is a shared national challenge that must be addressed collectively.”

The DWI deputy national chairman described claims in the disputed article as selective and misleading.

He cited National Bureau of Statistics data indicating that headline inflation eased to 14.63 per cent in September from 15.39 per cent in August.

He added, “Recently, the government announced a 30-day petrol discount at NNPC retail stations, with commercial transport operators given priority. The claim that politics is “selfish” misreads the purpose of the visit.

“The council’s consultations with traditional leaders aim to build consensus and gather counsel ahead of the campaign season. They do not replace governance, and they do not claim to. Governance and campaigning can and do happen together.”

The organisation urged the media and the public to exercise caution when reporting claims attributed to traditional rulers, particularly where the allegations relied on anonymous sources and lacked verifiable evidence.

He challenge the writer to provide evidence-based and verifiable proof of the claims or he should simply retract such claims otherwise.