2027: l'opposition a mis à niveau sa campagne de Facebook, Twitter à AI Gov Gouverneur Sani

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani warned on Saturday that the political opposition has escalated its electoral strategy from social media platforms to artificial intelligence, urging supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress to remain vigilant. Speaking at the launch of the APC presidential campaign in Kaduna, the governor stated that opponents have moved beyond Facebook and Twitter to utilize AI tools. He called on party members to prepare and stay watchful against these new digital tactics. Sani directed specific criticism at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, identified as the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress. In remarks referencing Abubakar, the governor challenged the "northern candidate" to demonstrate his administrative achievements. Sani noted that when urged to vote for a northern candidate based solely on regional identity, he requested evidence of past performance. He asserted that until now, the candidate has failed to provide such a track record. The governor highlighted infrastructure projects completed during the current administration as counter-evidence. He stated that more than 1,000 kilometers of roads have been constructed in northern Nigeria under Vice President Kashim Shettima. Conversely, he questioned whether the former vice president could identify even 200 kilometers of road built in the northeast region during his tenure. Sani expressed confidence that residents of Kaduna and the broader north intend to reward President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the polls in January 2027. He described the upcoming vote as a choice for continuity and a leader who fulfills promises. Addressing the president directly, Sani recounted a visit Tinubu made to Birnin Gwari Local Government Area on December 22, 2022. At that time, the area was considered a center of insecurity in the northwest. Despite advice to avoid the trip, the president proceeded. The journey from Kaduna lasted four hours and involved a convoy of 27 armored vehicles. Sani claimed that two promises made during that visit have since been realized. One such promise involves the reconstruction of the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road. The governor described the 123-kilometer stretch as having been abandoned for over 40 years. He announced that 117 billion naira has been released to the contractor for the project. Sani stated that travel to Birnin Gwari is now safe enough to occur without police escorts. Regarding the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway, he reported that 95 percent of the reconstruction work is finished. The president had assured Sani that 740 billion naira would be paid for this project. The governor noted that over 90 percent of Kaduna residents traveling via the Abuja route have not encountered kidnapping incidents recently. Sani also cited the approval of an 865 million dollar budget for the metropolitan red line project in Kaduna, designated as a pilot state initiative. He mentioned that the contractor, Mota-Engil, informed him last week that 300 million dollars had been mobilized for the approximately 50-kilometer corridor. Additionally, the governor praised the federal government's substantial support for agricultural transformation, claiming no previous Nigerian leader had backed the sector to such an extent. Senator Abdul'aziz Yari, director-general of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, stated that the campaign would focus on the government's existing record. This political maneuvering occurs amidst a significant realignment within Kaduna politics involving former allies of ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai. Bashir Sa'idu, a former chief of staff to El-Rufai, accused his former principal of betrayal in an interview with Radio France Internationale. Sa'idu claimed that he and others, including Suleiman Hunkuyi, were instrumental in building the political structures that led to El-Rufai's victories in 2015 and 2019. Sa'idu denied that El-Rufai single-handedly created their political careers, asserting instead that they enabled his success. The rupture between El-Rufai and his associates intensified following the ADC governorship primary. Isah Ashiru won the nomination with 86,113 votes, defeating Ja'afaru Sani, a former education commissioner, who received 29,580 votes. Sani rejected the result, citing irregularities. Sa'idu and other allies felt marginalized, believing El-Rufai favored Ashiru due to influence from the former governor's family and close associates. They alleged that the party's candidate selection was controlled by a small circle rather than the broader base. Sa'idu stated that his group, Kaduna De-Initiatives, built the ADC's structure across the state but left after feeling the party was hijacked by individuals who arrived later. He described the situation as the party being tele-guided by a family, which he found unacceptable. Following this dispute, Sa'idu, Sani, and other former El-Rufai aides defected back to the APC. On October 17, Sa'idu formally joined the APC in Zaria alongside Governor Uba Sani and former Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari. This shift brings several former officials of El-Rufai's administration into the camp of his successor ahead of the 2027 general elections.