2027 polls: APC chieftain accuses Atiku supporters of manipulating Zamfara rally video

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna state, Yusuf Ali Rabagardama, has urged Nigerians to disregard a video being circulated by supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, which purportedly suggests that APC supporters at a solidarity rally in Gusau, Zamfara State, chanted “Sai Atiku” during a gathering organised to celebrate the appointment of Senator Abdul’aziz Yari as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.

Rabagardama described the video as a desperate attempt to distort the political reality in Zamfara State and create a false impression that the people of the state have abandoned the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in favour of Atiku ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja, Yusuf Rabagardama alleged that the video, which he said first emanated from the Facebook page of a social-media promoter known as “Huram King”, a known supporter of Atiku Abubakar, had been manipulated by superimposing audio of people chanting “Sai Atiku” over the original footage.

He said the alleged manipulation was designed to deceive the public and manufacture an impression of popular support for Atiku where, according to him, none existed.

“After a careful analysis of the video in circulation, it is clear that the audio has been manipulated and superimposed to create the erroneous impression that the people of Zamfara preferred Atiku Abubakar to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027,” he said.

Rabagardama stressed that while every Nigerian has the constitutional right to support any political candidate of his or her choice, deliberately manipulating audiovisual material to misrepresent the political preferences of citizens was unacceptable.

“There is nothing wrong with supporting Atiku Abubakar or any other candidate. That is democracy. But when you begin to manipulate videos and manufacture voices in order to twist the people’s choice, that is no longer legitimate political competition. It is desperation,” he stated.

He urged political parties and their supporters to compete on the strength of their ideas, records and programmes rather than resorting to what he described as misinformation and digital manipulation.

“You cannot manufacture popularity with a computer. You cannot edit a video and manufacture the consent of the people. The people will ultimately speak for themselves at the ballot box,” he said.

Adding that “Zamfara People Cannot Celebrate Yari Today and Chant for Atiku Tomorrow.”

Rabagardama further argued that the alleged “Sai Atiku” narrative was particularly implausible given the thousands of people who trooped out in support and the widespread political acceptance and influence of Senator Abdul’aziz Yari in Zamfara State and across the northern political landscape.

He said the people of Zamfara had every reason to welcome Yari’s emergence as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, describing the former governor and senator as a politician with deep roots in the state and extensive relationships across the North.

“It is politically irrational to suggest that the same people who came out to celebrate the emergence of Senator Abdul’aziz Yari as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council suddenly turned around to campaign for Atiku Abubakar,” he said.

He added: “The people of Zamfara know Yari. They understand his political strength, his history and his network. His appointment has generated genuine excitement among APC supporters, not the imaginary crisis that Atiku’s social-media propagandists are trying to manufacture.”

According to him, the emergence of Yari has strengthened the APC’s political machinery ahead of 2027 and has unsettled opposition elements who recognise his capacity to mobilise support across the northern states.

“Yari’s Emergence Has Triggered Opposition Panic,” he stated.

The APC chieftain said he could understand the anxiety within opposition circles following Yari’s appointment, describing him as one of the few northern politicians with the experience, networks and political goodwill required to coordinate an effective presidential campaign across the region.

“I can understand their apprehension over the emergence of Senator Yari as Director-General of the Campaign Council. They know exactly what his emergence means.

“Yari is not a political newcomer. He has been tested at virtually every level of political leadership. He understands the North, he understands the political terrain and, most importantly, he has relationships across party and regional lines,” he remarked.

Rabagardama noted that Yari’s political credentials include his service as a former member of the House of Representatives, two-term Governor of Zamfara State, former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said these experiences have equipped Yari with the political sophistication and national network necessary to coordinate a formidable campaign structure for President Tinubu.

“Senator Abdul’aziz Yari brings experience, structure, reach and political credibility to the Tinubu campaign. He has been a governor, a senator, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and a federal legislator. These are not merely titles; they represent relationships and networks built over decades.

“Politics Should Not Become a Contest of Deception,” he said.

Rabagardama appealed to political actors across the country to uphold civility and respect for democratic choices as the 2027 election approaches.

He warned that the increasing use of manipulated videos, fabricated audio and misleading social-media content could undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process if left unchecked.

Yusuf Rabagardama expressed confidence that the APC would approach the 2027 election with a stronger organisational structure and broader national reach, particularly with the emergence of experienced political figures such as Senator Yari in key campaign leadership positions.