The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) of orchestrating a campaign of misinformation to undermine President Bola Tinubu’s recent campaign flag-off in Kaduna.
The ruling party alleged that the opposition deployed a combination of doctored images, fake documents, and deepfake videos to create a negative impression of the event. These tactics, according to the APC, were designed to mislead the public and damage the President’s political standing during a key engagement in Kaduna State.
The controversy follows the recent campaign flag-off for President Bola Tinubu in Kaduna, which was intended to consolidate support for the administration.
Allegations of digital misinformation in Kaduna
The APC’s statement specifically pointed to the use of sophisticated technology to manufacture false narratives. The party claimed that deepfake videos—highly realistic but artificial video simulations—were utilised to portray the President and his campaign in an unfavourable light.
Beyond video manipulation, the party also cited the circulation of forged documents and edited photographs. These assets were reportedly shared across various social media platforms to suggest mismanagement or a lack of public interest during the Kaduna proceedings.
The deployment of deepfake technology represents a notable shift in political campaigning, where artificial intelligence is used to manipulate human likenesses with startling accuracy. In the Nigerian context, where social media serves as a primary source of political information for millions, the ability to manufacture convincing but entirely false video evidence presents a direct challenge to electoral integrity.
Political analysts suggest that if these allegations are substantiated, it could mark a turning point in the level of technological warfare seen in Nigerian elections. The use of such tools is intended to bypass traditional media scrutiny and reach voters directly via mobile devices, often before fact-checkers can intervene.
While the APC has been vocal about these alleged plots, there has been no immediate formal response from Atiku Abubakar or the leadership of the African Democratic Congress regarding the specific claims of deepfake deployment.
The incident raises urgent questions for regulatory bodies, including the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), regarding how to effectively monitor and police the use of AI-generated content in political contests.
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