The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has mocked opposition figures over claims that President Bola Tinubu’s appearance and speech at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council were pre-recorded.
Keyamo, in a post on X on Thursday, said the event was covered live by local and international media, questioning the basis of the allegation.
“We thought we had seen and heard the worst nonsense from certain characters during the Buhari era when there was a conspiracy theory claiming that former Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari died during a medical treatment in London in 2017 and was replaced by a cloned body double or lookalike called Jubril from Sudan,” he wrote.
He added, “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 said he did not know whether to laugh or cry over the claim, adding that he believed signs of mental distress were becoming evident among some opposition figures.
Tinubu inaugurated the APC Presidential Campaign Council on Wednesday at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja as the ruling party intensified preparations for the 2027 general election.
The President chairs the council, with Vice-President Kashim Shettima and the 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.
The inauguration brought together party leaders and other political figures to coordinate the President’s re-election campaign.
Tinubu charged members of the council to mobilise voters across their wards and polling units, stressing that their efforts would only count if they secured votes in the election.
The APC has scheduled its campaign flag-off rally for October 24 in Kaduna State.
The controversy followed a post by activist Chidi Odinkalu on Wednesday, who questioned whether Tinubu attended the inauguration in person, alleging that the video of the President’s address showed signs of pre-recording.
Odinkalu wrote on X, “It does not require close study of this clip to understand that this was a pre-recorded address. @officialABAT was not at this venue in person.
“The transitions are un-natural, the camera work is a production & everything is an orchestration. The parties to the crime are many. Let them produce the clip of his promenade & a wide angle.”
Keyamo, however, did not mention Odinkalu by name in his response.
The presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, also responded to Odinkalu’s post, accusing him of allowing partisanship to influence his judgment.
“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. You should be ashamed of this post,” Onanuga wrote.