APC Accuses Atiku and ADC of Fake‑News Plot Against Kaduna Rally

What Happened

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) issued a declaration on 24 October 2026, alleging that former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were coordinating a disinformation campaign intended to tarnish President Bola Tinubu’s campaign launch in Kaduna. The council, represented by spokesperson De Le Alake, said the alleged plot involved the circulation of manipulated images, forged documents and deep‑fake videos designed to create the impression that the APC rally was being supported by an unrealistic financial outlay and that the public was opposed to the campaign.

The accusations were made public on Saturday 24 October, with the council’s statement circulated through mainstream media and social platforms. In a subsequent press release the next day, the APC PCC reaffirmed these accusations, characterizing the suspected scheme as a cunning and meticulously arranged effort to mislead the public regarding the event and the party’s leadership.

Background

The APC PCC’s allegations centre on three main pieces of alleged disinformation:

1. A photograph showing a security vehicle on a standard patrol near an APC campaign sign in Kaduna metropolis was used to suggest that authorities had positioned forces to safeguard the party’s signage. According to the council, this image was inserted into a national publication and later distributed by Atiku through his social media platforms. 2. A document purportedly authored by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and addressed to APC Director‑General Senator Abdulaziz Yari asserted that the state administration had allocated N2.3 trillion to facilitate the hosting of the gathering. The APC PCC rejected the claim, citing the state’s combined budgets for 2024 (N458.271 billion), 2025 (N790.439 billion) and 2026 (N985.9 billion) as far below the alleged amount. 3. The council further claimed that outdated clips and edited videos might be disseminated during the event to fabricate the narrative that local inhabitants were hostile toward the APC’s political drive.

In response, the ADC’s Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, accused the APC of using fake‑news allegations to divert attention from Nigeria’s rising living costs and economic hardship under President Tinubu. Shaibu demanded that the APC furnish proof connecting Atiku and the ADC to the suspected spread of fabricated paperwork, altered visuals and synthetic video content.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, also weighed in, claiming that Atiku was “jittery” about the Kaduna flag‑off because he feared losing the bulk of northern votes. Keyamo said the former Vice‑President had launched a “blistering online attack” against the APC and had been involved in the destruction of APC posters in Kaduna and other northern areas.

Why It Matters

The dispute highlights the intense political rivalry between the APC and the ADC as the 2027 presidential election approaches. The allegations suggest that the ADC, which has historically struggled to gain traction in the south, is attempting to secure northern votes through disinformation tactics. The APC’s accusations, if proven, could damage the ADC’s credibility and influence public perception of the upcoming election.

The economic dimension of the controversy is also significant. The ADC’s rebuttal, which argues that the APC’s preoccupation with disinformation claims diverts attention from Nigeria’s economic difficulties—specifically elevated fuel costs, rising food prices and increasing poverty—highlights the wider controversy surrounding the APC’s administrative performance. The APC PCC’s emphasis on budget inconsistencies, citing the state’s combined budgets for three years, aims to undermine the ADC’s claims of financial support for the rally.

What Happens Next

The sources do not indicate any formal legal action or investigation into the alleged fake‑news campaign. The APC PCC has called on Nigerians to reject the alleged disinformation, while the ADC has challenged the APC to produce evidence. No further statements or dates for a possible inquiry were provided in the available reports.

The situation remains unresolved, with both parties maintaining their positions. The outcome of this dispute may influence voter sentiment ahead of the 2027 presidential election, particularly in the northern regions where the ADC seeks to expand its support base.