Atiku Camp Tackles APC Over Alleged Use Of AI To Discredit Kaduna Rally

The camp of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to provide evidence for its allegations that the opposition deployed artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfake videos to discredit President Bola Tinubu’s campaign rally in Kaduna.

Paul Ibe, Atiku’s media adviser, said the APC had failed to substantiate its claims linking Atiku and the ADC to the circulation of allegedly forged documents, manipulated images and misleading reports ahead of the rally scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026.

He made the remarks in a post on X on Saturday while reacting to allegations by the APC Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson, Dele Alake.

Ibe questioned the evidence linking Atiku and the ADC to the disputed materials, arguing that sharing a published report did not establish involvement in an alleged conspiracy.

“Where is the proof that Atiku or the ADC produced the disputed letter, commissioned deepfakes or planted newspaper reports? Sharing a published report does not establish authorship of a conspiracy,” he said.

He challenged the APC to establish who forged the purported letter and demonstrate how any footage described as manipulated had been altered.

“If the letter is forged, establish who forged it. If footage is manipulated, demonstrate the manipulation. Accusations are not evidence, however loudly repeated,” Ibe added.

The ADC presidential candidate’s aide also questioned the timing of the allegations, suggesting that the party was attempting to discredit footage of public resentment before the rally began.

“Has the APC already decided that any applause is authentic but any disapproval must be artificial intelligence?” he asked.

Ibe urged Nigerians to assess verified footage independently and called on the ruling party to address concerns about insecurity, hunger and the rising cost of living.

“Nigerians can judge verified footage for themselves,” he said.

“The APC should spend more time explaining its record on insecurity, hunger and living costs. Calling Atiku names will not put food on anyone’s table.”

He concluded by demanding evidence to support the allegations against the former vice president and the ADC.

“Produce your evidence. Your press statement cannot serve as its own proof,” Ibe said.

Earlier on Saturday, the APC Presidential Campaign Council accused Atiku and the ADC of coordinating a misinformation campaign to discredit Tinubu and the party’s campaign flag-off in Kaduna.

Alake alleged that the opposition had circulated manipulated images, false documents, AI-generated content and deepfake videos targeting Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State and other APC leaders.

“We have uncovered a well-orchestrated, devious plan by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his party to discredit the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna today, Saturday, October 24th, 2026,” Alake said.

He cited the circulation of a photograph showing a security vehicle near an APC campaign billboard in Kaduna metropolis as one of the alleged attempts to mislead the public.

According to Alake, the opposition misrepresented the photograph by suggesting that security personnel had been deployed to protect the party’s billboards.

The APC spokesperson also accused the opposition of circulating a purported letter from Governor Uba Sani to the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari. The alleged letter claimed that the Kaduna State Government had released N2.3 trillion to host the rally.

Alake dismissed the reported expenditure as false and questioned the financial capacity of the state government to spend such an amount on a political event.

“How much is the entire annual revenue of Kaduna State, or any state, for that matter, that a state would spend N2.3 trillion to host a rally?” he asked.

He further claimed that the alleged N2.3 trillion expenditure exceeded Kaduna State’s combined budgets for 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Alake put the state’s budgets for the three years at N458.271 billion, N790.439 billion and N985.9 billion, respectively.