Politics
Atiku, ADC Accused of Using Deepfakes to Undermine APC Campaign
Presidential Campaign Council has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress of allegedly plotting to discredit the party’s presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Dele Alake, in Abuja, the council said an alleged campaign of disinformation had been ongoing in the 24 hours preceding the rally.
The statement alleged that the opposition was deploying fake news, artificial intelligence, deepfake videos and counterfeit documents to manipulate public opinion against the APC, President Bola Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani.
It cited the circulation of a photograph showing a security vehicle stationed at a junction near an APC campaign billboard in Kaduna metropolis.
According to the statement, the photograph was deliberately presented as evidence that security agents had been deployed to protect APC campaign billboards.
The council alleged that the narrative was subsequently published by a national newspaper before being amplified by Atiku Abubakar on his official social media platforms.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council also dismissed a purported letter allegedly written by Governor Uba Sani to the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari.
The alleged letter reportedly claimed that the Kaduna State Government had released N2.3 trillion to host the APC presidential campaign rally.
The statement described the document as fake and questioned the logic behind the claim, noting that the amount exceeded Kaduna State’s combined budgets for 2024, 2025 and 2026.
It stated that the state’s budgets for the three years stood at N458.271 billion, N790.439 billion and N985.9 billion, respectively, adding that their combined total remained below N2.3 trillion.
The statement further alleged that more old, doctored and deepfake videos could be circulated during the rally to create the impression of public resentment against the APC and its leaders.
It urged Nigerians to exercise caution and verify information before accepting or sharing materials relating to the campaign flag-off.
The council also accused Atiku and the ADC of allegedly seeking to exploit disinformation in their desperation to gain political advantage ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It called on Nigerians to reject what it described as attempts to manipulate public opinion and undermine the APC campaign, while urging the public to remain vigilant.
