ADC Slams APC Over Deepfake Allegation, Demands Evidence

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to provide evidence for its allegation that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the opposition party planned to use artificial intelligence-generated content and deepfake videos to discredit the ruling party’s campaign rally in Kaduna.

Paul Ibe, media adviser to Atiku, said the APC had failed to substantiate its claims linking the former vice-president and the ADC to the alleged circulation of forged documents, manipulated images and misleading reports ahead of the rally scheduled for Saturday.

The response followed a statement by the APC Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson, Dele Alake, who accused Atiku and the ADC of coordinating a disinformation campaign targeting President Bola Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and other party leaders.

Alake alleged that the opposition planned to circulate fabricated reports, doctored photographs and deepfake videos to create a false impression of public opposition to the APC campaign.

He cited a photograph showing a security vehicle near an APC campaign billboard in Kaduna, which he said was misrepresented as evidence that security personnel had been deployed specifically to protect the party’s billboards.

The APC spokesperson also disputed a purported letter allegedly written by Governor Uba Sani to the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari. The document claimed that the Kaduna State Government had released N2.3 trillion to host the rally.

Alake dismissed the reported expenditure as false, arguing that the amount exceeded Kaduna State’s combined budgets for 2024, 2025 and 2026.

In response, Ibe questioned the evidence connecting Atiku and the ADC to the disputed materials, arguing that sharing a published news 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?” he asked.

He challenged the APC to identify whoever allegedly forged the 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 said.

He also urged the ruling party to focus on addressing concerns about insecurity, hunger and the rising cost of living.

The exchange comes amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, with both parties trading accusations over the use of misinformation and digital content to influence public opinion.

As of Saturday, the competing allegations had not been independently established through publicly presented forensic evidence.