Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, have dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu’s address at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council was pre-recorded.
The reactions followed an allegation by activist Chidi Odinkalu, who questioned whether Tinubu attended Wednesday’s event in person, citing what he described as unusual transitions and camera work in the video of the President’s speech.
Keyamo, in a post on X on Thursday, argued that the event had been covered live by local and international media, questioning the basis of the allegation.
He compared it to conspiracy theories during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, when claims circulated that Buhari had died during medical treatment in London and had been replaced by a lookalike.
“Now, some educated fellow (supposedly) comes up with an outrageous claim that the President’s appearance and speech yesterday at the launch of the APC Campaign Council was pre-recorded. Meanwhile, both the local and international press physically covered the event LIVE,” Keyamo wrote.
The minister said he did not know whether to laugh or cry over the allegation, adding that he believed some opposition figures were increasingly embracing claims he considered implausible. He did not mention Odinkalu by name.
Odinkalu had written on X that the video appeared to show a pre-recorded address, arguing that the camera work and transitions suggested a carefully produced presentation.
“It does not require close study of this clip to understand that this was a pre-recorded address,” he wrote, challenging those involved to release footage showing Tinubu’s movements at the venue and a wide-angle view of the event.
Onanuga also rejected the claim, accusing Odinkalu of allowing political partisanship to affect his judgement.
“You’ve let partisanship cloud your vision and judgment. You are now a member of the internet mob, eager to disregard the truth and push false narratives online,” the presidential spokesman wrote.
Tinubu inaugurated the APC Presidential Campaign Council at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja on Wednesday as the ruling party prepared for the 2027 general election.
The President chairs the council, with Vice-President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda serving as vice-chairmen. Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari is the Director-General, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma is the secretary.
At the inauguration, Tinubu urged members to mobilise voters across their wards and polling units, stressing that the campaign’s efforts must translate into votes.
The APC has scheduled its campaign flag-off rally for October 24, 2026 in Kaduna State.
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