The Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of using propaganda to deflect attention from its economic record, insisting that Nigerians are grappling with rising living costs, shrinking incomes and broken promises.

In a statement issued on Saturday, October 24, 2026, Shaibu described a statement by Dele Alake as a “desperate, hollow smokescreen” by a campaign allegedly terrified of its record.

Alake had accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the ADC of a “devious plan” involving artificial intelligence manipulation and deepfakes. Shaibu, however, challenged Alake to provide evidence linking Atiku and the opposition party to the alleged letter or any fabricated video.

He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of making allegations without substantiating them and urged Alake to provide names, dates and forensic findings to support his claims.

“Until then, his ‘fake news alert’ is an empty political stunt,” Shaibu said.
He argued that the APC did not need a conspiracy to expose its shortcomings, claiming that the consequences of the government’s economic policies were evident in markets, filling stations and households across the country.

According to him, petrol was selling for about ₦1,400 per litre, while diesel had exceeded ₦2,000 per litre. He also cited food inflation of nearly 20 per cent and a World Bank poverty estimate reported by Reuters to argue that Nigerians were bearing the brunt of the administration’s economic policies.

Shaibu described the government’s economic direction as “incompetent, callous and ruinous”, insisting that the hardship experienced by Nigerians could not be dismissed as fake news.
The ADC campaign spokesman also questioned the security arrangements surrounding Tinubu’s campaign activities, challenging the president’s description of a vehicle near an APC billboard as a routine patrol.

He asked why a campaign billboard required protection and cited reports alleging that supporters transported from distant states had been left sleeping on the streets of Kaduna.
Shaibu further referred to reports of an accident involving APC supporters travelling from Sokoto and Abuja to the rally, saying the details remained unconfirmed and calling on the party to account urgently for the passengers’ safety.

He condemned the alleged practice of transporting supporters over long distances and leaving them to sleep outdoors, describing it as political exploitation rather than leadership.
According to him, the APC was more concerned about projecting the appearance of a large crowd than safeguarding the welfare and dignity of the people attending its rallies.

Shaibu also questioned the geographical spread of Tinubu’s campaign, claiming that the president was campaigning in only 12 states. He alleged that the same supporters were being moved from one rally to another to create the impression of widespread nationwide backing.

He argued that the logistics involved in transporting supporters between states could undermine the campaign’s ability to sustain its momentum, adding that a crowd moved from one rally to another should not automatically be presented as evidence of spontaneous nationwide support.
“You can hire buses, assemble a crowd and plaster the streets with billboards. You cannot hire consent,” Shaibu said.

He maintained that Nigerians had endured rising prices, declining purchasing power and unfulfilled promises, arguing that campaign rallies and political statements could not conceal public dissatisfaction with the APC’s record.

Shaibu further dismissed the party’s attacks on Atiku, saying they would do little to ease the cost of living or reduce the financial pressure on households.

“The APC’s failures are sweeping, painful and indefensible,” he said, adding that the party’s promises had given way to a reality of expensive food, unaffordable transport and families struggling to cope.

He predicted that Nigerians would reject the APC at the polls, arguing that no amount of propaganda could shield the ruling party from accountability for its record.
“Bola made life expensive; Atiku will make Nigeria affordable again!” Shaibu declared.