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Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has accused opposition parties of relying on artificial intelligence (AI) for their campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to remain vigilant against misleading political content.
Sani made this accusation on Saturday during the APC presidential campaign in Kaduna, where he also defended the infrastructure record of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and challenged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to demonstrate the road projects he facilitated during his eight years in office. Project reports
The governor argued that political campaigns should be built around verifiable results and direct engagement with voters rather than what he described as AI-driven messaging without sufficient grassroots mobilization.
“The opposition has now upgraded their campaign from Facebook and Twitter to artificial intelligence,” he said.
He urged APC supporters to carefully scrutinize information circulating online as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The opposition is campaigning only with artificial intelligence, no real campaign,” Sani added.
The governor, however, did not identify specific opposition parties or provide examples of campaign materials he believed were generated using artificial intelligence.
Sani challenges Atiku on road projects
The Kaduna governor also used the rally to question Atiku’s record as vice president under former president Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007, challenging him to identify road projects he had helped deliver for northern Nigeria during that period.
Sani contrasted the former vice president’s tenure with what he described as the Tinubu administration’s infrastructure achievements, particularly in the North East.
He said the current administration has undertaken extensive road construction in the region and maintained that Vice President Kashim Shettima will be remembered for his contribution to such efforts.
The governor said he told Shettima that history will judge his role in the administration favorably.
“And I dare say even Mr. Vice President sitting there, I was talking to him at the airport. And I told him that history will remember him and be kind to him,” Sani said.
He challenged Atiku to demonstrate comparable achievements during his years in office.
“Can he show us 200 kilometers of road that he himself was able to at least help the populations of the North-East when he was vice president?” he asked.
Sani argued that political leaders seeking the support of Northern voters should be prepared to account for their achievements in public office rather than relying on regional sentiments or campaign rhetoric.
His comments put infrastructure development at the center of the political contest, with the governor presenting road construction under Tinubu as the basis for evaluating the administration’s performance.
Reconstruction of Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway
Sani also praised Tinubu for supporting the reconstruction of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway, describing the route as strategically important for the economic and social integration of northern Nigeria.
According to the governor, the project was close to completion, following previous challenges related to insecurity and funding.
He recalled drawing the President’s attention to the importance of the highway during a meeting about two years ago and commending the federal government for proceeding with reconstruction.
The governor said the road connects the North-West, North-Central and North-East states, while providing an important link between the northern and southern parts of the country.
He also expressed satisfaction with the security situation along the route, saying many people who traveled to Kaduna for the rally used the highway without reporting incidents of kidnapping en route.
Sani presented the project as an example of infrastructural interventions which, in his opinion, should guide voters’ judgment on the administration.
Governor highlights federal interventions
Apart from road construction, Sani commended the Tinubu administration for its interventions in transportation, education, vocational training, healthcare and agriculture.
He expressed appreciation to the President for choosing Kaduna as the pilot state for the proposed Red Line metro rail project.
The governor said the initiative will improve transportation within the Kaduna metropolis and described it as a major investment in the development of the state.
He also referenced federal support for student funding and career and technical training, arguing that such programs could expand opportunities for young people and improve their prospects for economic advancement.
On agriculture, Sani commended the administration’s support to state governments, describing the sector as an important pillar of the Nigerian economy.
According to him, sustained investment in agriculture is needed to improve productivity and create opportunities for farmers and other participants in the agricultural value chain.
The governor also commended the reopening of primary health centers in Kaduna State, presenting access to essential health services as another area of public importance.
Tinubu seeks second term
The rally also provided Tinubu the platform to appeal to voters to renew his mandate for another four years.
In his speech, the President thanked Kaduna residents for supporting him during the 2023 presidential election and said he has returned to seek their votes again.
He promised continuity, prosperity and progress, blaming opposition politicians for the hunger and poverty they criticize.
“I hear my opponent talking about hunger and poverty. Who created it? It was them. They created hunger. They created poverty. We are trying to eradicate it,” Tinubu said.
The President defended his administration’s performance on workers’ welfare, saying salaries were paid regularly and commended APC governors for their performance in their respective states.
He urged eligible voters to obtain their permanent voter ID cards and participate in the elections, calling for support for APC candidates contesting the presidency, governorships, Senate, House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly.
Tinubu also referred to the removal of petrol subsidies and pledged to tackle corruption and smuggling, presenting these issues as part of the changes that have come under his administration.
The APC intensifies its mobilization
Sani thanked Tinubu, party leaders, governors and other dignitaries who attended the rally in Kaduna, describing the meeting as an important step in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
He said the turnout demonstrated the enthusiasm of the party’s supporters and expressed confidence that the support shown during the President’s visit will translate into votes.
The governor urged APC members to remain engaged in the party’s campaign and carefully monitor information shared online, particularly as artificial intelligence tools become increasingly accessible.
While AI can be used to generate text, images, audio and video, Sani presented no specific evidence to support his claim that opposition parties were relying on AI rather than grassroots campaigns.
The allegation, along with his challenge to Atiku over road infrastructure, was part of the governor’s broader argument that the next election should be contested on the basis of policy documents, development projects and competing claims on governance.
