The African Democratic Congress has challenged the All Progressives Congress to provide evidence to support its allegation that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the opposition party planned to use deepfake videos and fabricated documents to discredit the ruling party’s presidential campaign rally in Kaduna.
The ADC described the allegation as an attempt to divert public attention from the economic challenges facing Nigerians under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, stated this in a statement on Saturday while responding to allegations made by the APC Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson, Dele Alake.
Alake had accused Atiku and the ADC of planning to circulate artificial intelligence-generated videos, fake documents and misleading information ahead of the APC’s presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna.
He also alleged that the opposition circulated a purported letter claiming that the Kaduna State Government approved ₦2.3tn for the rally, alongside images and videos suggesting that security personnel were deployed to protect campaign billboards.
However, Shaibu faulted the allegations, insisting that the APC had failed to provide evidence connecting Atiku or the ADC to the alleged materials.
“He accuses Atiku Abubakar and the ADC of a ‘devious plan,’ AI manipulation and deepfakes, yet offers no evidence linking them to the alleged letter or any fabricated video,” Shaibu said.
He challenged the ruling party to present verifiable evidence, including the names of those involved, relevant dates and forensic findings.
“Until then, his ‘fake news alert’ is an empty political stunt,” he added.
The ADC official also criticised the Federal Government’s economic policies, citing high fuel prices, rising living costs and declining purchasing power as reasons for public dissatisfaction with the administration.
According to him, petrol prices of about ₦1,400 per litre, diesel prices exceeding ₦2,000 per litre and food inflation approaching 20 per cent reflected the economic difficulties confronting households.
“No conspiracy is needed to expose the APC. Its own failures are visible in every market, filling station and household,” Shaibu stated.
He further argued that the administration’s economic record, rather than opposition activities, was responsible for the negative public perception of the ruling party.
Shaibu also questioned the APC’s explanation that a security vehicle photographed near one of its campaign billboards in Kaduna was on routine patrol.
“Nigerians can still ask why a campaign billboard needed protection,” he said.
The ADC campaign official also expressed concern over reports that some APC supporters transported from other states for the rally had been left sleeping on the streets of Kaduna.
He equally referred to reports of an accident involving supporters travelling from Sokoto and Abuja to attend the event, while noting that details of the incident remained unconfirmed.
Shaibu urged the APC to account for the safety of the passengers involved
He accused the ruling party of prioritising the appearance of large crowds at campaign events over the welfare of its supporters, describing the reported treatment of attendees as political exploitation.
The ADC official further questioned President Tinubu’s campaign schedule, alleging that supporters were being transported from one state to another to create the impression of widespread nationwide support.
He maintained that the size of a rally crowd did not necessarily translate into electoral backing.
“You can hire buses, assemble a crowd and plaster the streets with billboards. You cannot hire consent,” Shaibu said.
He added that the APC’s attacks on Atiku would not address the economic difficulties experienced by Nigerians.
“Alake’s attack on Atiku will not reduce the cost of a meal by one naira,” he stated.
Shaibu expressed confidence that Nigerians would vote against the APC in the forthcoming election, arguing that the party would be held accountable for its record in government.
