The APC and ADC have traded accusations following President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 campaign flag-off in Kaduna, with the opposition alleging poor turnout and paid mobilisation, while the ruling party accused its rivals of planning to use AI-generated content and deepfakes to discredit the event.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have exchanged accusations over the turnout and online coverage of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign flag-off in Kaduna, turning the rally into an early battle over political support and the credibility of campaign narratives.

The APC held the flag-off at Kaduna Township Stadium on Saturday, October 24, with Tinubu and senior party figures in attendance. While reports from pro-government and state media described a large crowd, the ADC Presidential Campaign Council said the venue was sparsely occupied, despite what it alleged was extensive mobilisation from across the North-West and beyond.

The competing accounts have raised questions about how political parties measure popular support, the role of paid mobilisation at rallies and the growing use of allegations about artificial intelligence (AI) and manipulated media in Nigeria’s election-season political communication.

ADC alleges poor turnout and paid mobilisation

In a statement on Saturday, ADC Presidential Campaign Council Director of Media and Publicity Kola Ologbondiyan described the rally as a disappointment for the ruling party, arguing that it failed to demonstrate the level of public support the APC had sought to project.

Ologbondiyan alleged that the party had mobilised supporters from the seven North-West states and beyond, with attendees reportedly receiving between ₦50,000 and ₦100,000 each.

Despite the alleged payments, he claimed, the stadium remained sparsely occupied, with empty seats visible during the event.

“You can rent a crowd, but you cannot rent acceptance,” Ologbondiyan said, arguing that attendance at a political rally did not necessarily translate into electoral support.

The ADC also criticised Tinubu’s handling of the economy, particularly the impact of fuel subsidy removal and the cost-of-living pressures facing households.

It accused the APC of recycling promises made during previous election cycles without adequately accounting for its record in office. The opposition urged the ruling party to address Nigerians’ economic concerns rather than rely on large political gatherings.

However, the allegations of payments to attendees have not been independently established in the reports reviewed. Nor do the competing descriptions of the crowd, on their own, conclusively establish the level of support the APC enjoys in Kaduna or the wider North-West.

APC alleges AI-generated content and deepfake plot

Before the rally, the APC Presidential Campaign Council accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the ADC of attempting to undermine the event through what it described as a coordinated misinformation campaign.

In a statement signed by campaign spokesperson Dele Alake, the APC alleged that its opponents were using manipulated photographs, counterfeit documents, AI-generated content and deepfake videos to create a negative impression of Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and other party leaders.

One issue cited by the APC involved a photograph showing a security vehicle near an APC campaign billboard in Kaduna. Alake alleged that the image had been misrepresented online as evidence that security personnel were deployed to protect the party’s billboards amid public anger.

The APC also challenged a purported letter attributed to Governor Uba Sani, which claimed that the Kaduna State Government had released ₦2.3 trillion to host the rally.

Alake described the document as fabricated, arguing that the claimed expenditure exceeded the state’s combined budgets for 2024, 2025 and 2026. The campaign council further warned that old footage, doctored videos and deepfakes could be circulated to create the impression that residents were rejecting the ruling party.

The APC’s allegation was that AI and manipulated media were being used or planned to discredit the rally—not that the party had used AI to generate a crowd at the stadium. The reports reviewed do not establish that AI was used to manufacture images of a larger APC audience.

The allegations against Atiku and the ADC were made by the APC campaign council. The reports reviewed did not independently establish that the opposition had orchestrated the alleged operation.

Competing accounts, competing narratives

Coverage of the event reflected sharply different assessments.

Voice of Nigeria reported that supporters filled the stadium ahead of Tinubu’s arrival, while a report published by Premium Times described crowds spilling beyond the venue and onto nearby roads. Reuters also reported that Tinubu addressed thousands of supporters at the rally.

The ADC, by contrast, described the turnout as disappointing and alleged that the stadium remained sparsely occupied despite extensive mobilisation.

The differences underline the importance of examining the timing and context of photographs and videos. Images captured before the arrival of the main speakers, during speeches or after some attendees have left can show different levels of attendance. A single image may therefore be insufficient to establish the total turnout.

Similarly, the presence of a large crowd does not establish that everyone attended voluntarily, just as visible empty seats do not independently prove that a rally failed politically.

The claim that attendees were paid also requires evidence beyond a statement by an opposing political party.

What the dispute means for 2027

The fallout from the Kaduna rally offers an early indication of how political competition ahead of the 2027 general election may extend beyond speeches and campaign promises to disputes over images, online narratives and claims of public acceptance.

For the APC, the rally was intended to demonstrate organisational strength and build momentum for Tinubu’s re-election bid. The opposition’s criticism seeks to challenge that impression by questioning the turnout and the administration’s record on economic hardship.

The exchange also highlights the risks posed by manipulated media. AI tools can be used to create convincing but misleading images, audio and video. However, allegations that such material exists should be tested through verification rather than accepted solely because a political actor makes the claim.

A credible assessment of the rally would require independently verified footage from different times and locations, transparent information about the venue’s capacity and attendance, and evidence supporting or disproving the allegations of paid mobilisation.

Likewise, the APC’s claims about AI-generated content and deepfakes would be strengthened by identifying specific material, demonstrating how it was manipulated and presenting verifiable evidence of who produced or circulated it.

Ultimately, the political significance of the Kaduna rally will not be determined by competing press statements alone. The 2027 election will provide a more direct test of voters’ preferences, while the immediate dispute underscores the need for evidence-based reporting as parties compete to shape public perception.