Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has ridiculed allegations that President Bola Tinubu’s address at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council was recorded before the event.
Keyamo dismissed the claim as unfounded, joining presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga in criticising human rights activist Chidi Odinkalu, who questioned whether Tinubu was physically present at the ceremony.
The controversy began on Wednesday after Odinkalu shared a video of the inauguration on X, pointing to what he described as unusual camera transitions. He argued that the footage raised questions about whether the president attended the event in person.
Odinkalu subsequently challenged the organisers to release additional footage showing Tinubu’s arrival and wider views of the venue to clarify the circumstances surrounding the address.
In his post, the activist insisted that the video appeared to show a pre-recorded speech rather than a live appearance by the president.
Reacting on Thursday, Keyamo likened the allegation to conspiracy theories that circulated during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, including claims that Buhari had died in London in 2017 and been replaced by a Sudanese body double known as Jubril.
The aviation minister questioned how such an allegation could emerge despite media coverage of the APC event.
He maintained that local and international journalists had physically covered the inauguration live, arguing that this contradicted the suggestion that Tinubu’s appearance and address had been pre-recorded.
Keyamo also expressed disbelief at the allegation, suggesting that political hostility had contributed to the spread of questionable claims about the president.
Onanuga also took issue with Odinkalu’s post, accusing the activist of allowing political considerations to influence his assessment of the video.
The presidential spokesman argued that Odinkalu had joined online critics promoting what he described as misleading narratives about the president’s appearance at the event.
He urged the activist to reconsider his position, faulting him for sharing the allegation without, in his view, sufficient evidence.
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Odinkalu’s challenge centred on the visual presentation of the address, particularly the camera transitions and the absence of footage he said could independently establish Tinubu’s arrival and presence at the venue.
APC Intensifies Preparations For 2027 Elections
The dispute followed the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja as the ruling party stepped up preparations for the 2027 general election.
Tinubu chairs the council, with Vice-President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda serving as vice-chairmen.
Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari was named director-general, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma serves as secretary.
The APC has scheduled its official campaign flag-off rally for October 24 in Kaduna State.