By Luminous Jannamike, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council has fired back at Information Minister Dele Alake over his allegations against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, saying no amount of political propaganda can shield President Bola Tinubu’s administration from public anger over rising living costs.
The council argued that Nigerians were more concerned about the cost of food, fuel and transportation than allegations of artificial intelligence manipulation and deepfakes, challenging Alake to produce evidence linking Atiku or the ADC to the alleged fabricated letter and video.
In a statement on Saturday, Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, described Alake’s intervention as an attempt to divert attention from the government’s record, insisting that the economic hardship confronting Nigerians was real and undeniable.
“Until then, his ‘fake news alert’ is an empty political stunt,” Shaibu said, challenging the minister to provide names, dates and forensic findings to substantiate his allegations.
Citing petrol prices of about ₦1,400 per litre, diesel prices above ₦2,000 and food inflation hovering around 20 per cent, Shaibu said the economic pressures facing households could not be dismissed as fabricated information.
The council also cited a World Bank poverty estimate reported by Reuters, arguing that the administration’s economic direction had left millions of Nigerians struggling to make ends meet.
Turning to Tinubu’s campaign rally in Kaduna, Shaibu questioned the explanation that a vehicle seen near an APC billboard was on routine patrol, asking why a campaign billboard required such protection.
He also raised concerns over reports that supporters had travelled from distant states and were left sleeping on Kaduna’s streets. The statement further referred to reports of accidents involving APC supporters travelling from Sokoto and Abuja to the rally, although details remained unconfirmed.
Shaibu urged the APC to account for the safety of those travelling to its campaign events, condemning what he described as the exploitation of supporters for political optics.
“Making citizens endure long, hazardous journeys and sleep outdoors simply to create rally optics is political exploitation, not leadership,” he said.
The ADC campaign council also questioned Tinubu’s reported decision to campaign in only 12 states, alleging that supporters were being moved from one rally to another to project an impression of widespread popular backing.
“You can hire buses, assemble a crowd and plaster the streets with billboards. You cannot hire consent,” Shaibu said.
He maintained that the APC’s economic record, rather than its attacks on the opposition, would shape its electoral prospects, insisting that Nigerians enduring high prices and shrinking incomes would ultimately judge the administration at the polls.
“Alake’s attack on Atiku will not reduce the cost of a meal by one naira,” Shaibu added.
The council expressed confidence that voters would reject the APC, promising a different economic direction under Atiku.
“Bola made life expensive; Atiku will make Nigeria affordable again!” Shaibu declared.
