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Updated: ‘Leaked’ audio: Was Atiku involved in plot to rig 2023 poll?

Published

3 years ago

February 25, 2023

A “leaked audio” widely shared on social media platforms claimed that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, his running mate and Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, and Campaign Director General who is Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, were in a secret meeting where they were plotting to rig the 2023 presidential election for the PDP.

Another viral clip on WhatsApp in Hausa language claimed Atiku connived with the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on naira redesign policy against the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu.

On Facebook, the audio in which the claim was made was accompanied by the caption: “Atiku, Okowa, Tambuwal plan to rig this election. Hear their conversations.”

The post was said to have generated over 6,000 views, 496 shares and 330 likes as of Friday night.

The viral voice recording, according to a report by PRNigeria, had caused stir among the electorate a day to the presidential election.

A Facebook user, Yusuf Dauda Olanrewaju reacted thus; “this is serious. This is a criminal conspiracy which the DSS must investigate. Nobody should be above the law. And 2 out of these cr!m!nǎls are Alhajis. Bunch of Munaafiqun and Kaffiris.”

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Another user, Salihu Umar, stated, “thank God for this timely revelation.God is solidly behind BAT.However all APC agents/members must be very vigilant during all the election process till Asiwaju is declared victorious.

Meanwhile, in the second audio clip obtained and analysed by PRNigeria, a certain “Alhaji” claimed he had met with Mr Abubakar in both Dubai and Saudi Arabia and the later had promised him that he would not sack Emfiele if he emerged President.

He also claimed Mr Atiku would grant them an “oil and gas” licences while also enabling them to retain their “dollar business.”

He however lamented that an attempt to meet with Mr Tinubu proved abortive due to his “care and concern for Arewa the (North).”

Verification: Using speech recognition freeware, PRNigeria extracted the audio clips and tried to convert it to text for analysis against Atiku, Tambuwal and Okowa’s previous speeches, but the result was not so satisfactory as certain transcribed words didn’t match any information that could link to a credible media source or whistleblower.

PRNigeria then deployed a digital forensic expert who observed that the sequence and transition of the speeches of the purported individuals was highly unstable and not of the same enviroment/meeting room as being portrayed.

Similarly, it was observed that the voices at various points came with high or low tones, sharper sounds and sometimes concentrated pitch typical of a microphone usage in a broadcast environment which suggests either cloning with Artificial Intelligence or extraction of different words from various broadcast material of the individuals involved to make up the sentences against each of them to arrive at a deepfake.

Furthermore, PRNigeria‘s Audio Adobe Audition specialist carefully listened to the voice-over and observed that the background sound of the clip was noisy as against what it would have been if it was a physical meeting as purported.

This he explains could be Electromagnetic interference (EMI), also called radio-frequency interference (RFI) when in the radio frequency spectrum, is a disturbance generated by an external source that affects an electrical circuit by electromagnetic induction, electrostatic coupling, or conduction

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However, technology experts have now come forward to debunk the recording, pointing out irregularities that prove it is a fake, generated using sophisticated A.I. software that can mimic the sound and intonation of any human voice. They cited online services like www.respeecher.com and www.Resemble.ai which clone speech that are indistinguishable from the original

A further analysis of the other claim against Atiku shows that while the narrator claimed the Hausa clip was released by a known media organisation, but all digital traces showed no footprint of the content that could be linked to any media credible known media organisation.

Similarly, the release source is unidentifiable as it is not known to have come from any whistleblower or published by conventional media. Also, the characters in the clip lacked identity.

Meanwhile, the presidential candidate for PDP, Atiku Abubakar has condemned and debunked the viral audio describing it as “utter rubbish.”

“For the record, Atiku has run in two presidential elections and has never been indicted or prosecuted for election violence or vote buying.

“It is unfortunate that those seeking power will engage in outdated defeatist tactics. How can Tambuwal be referring to Atiku by his full name in a one-on-one private conversation? This is nonsensical, similar to the type of meaningless chatter about President Muhammadu Buhari being dead and replaced by one Jubril from Sudan,” the statement said.

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Voice Cloning:

Deepfake voice, also called voice cloning or synthetic voice, uses AI to generate a clone of a person’s voice. The technology has advanced to the point that it can closely replicate a human voice with great accuracy in tone and likeness.

The audio deepfake is a type of artificial intelligence used to create convincing speech sentences that sound like specific people saying things they did not say. This technology was initially developed for various applications to improve human life.

According to the PRNigeria’s report, an audio can be deepfake too, to create “voice skins” or ”voice clones” of public figures. Fraudsters use voice-cloning in mimicking voices of business people for extortions.

It observes that deepfake has been used legitimately for entertainment, parody and awareness campaigns. Meanwhile the technology is being misused to spread fake news and hate speech during political campaigns.

The report concludes that both clips on the PDP presidential candidate lack credible verifiable sources and cannot be traced to any whistleblower or conventional media as would have been the case in the event of such leaks.

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Pastor Found Dead in Guest House After Night Out With Married Female Church Member

Published

23 minutes ago

April 4, 2026

Trends Admin

Pastor Found Dead in Guest House After Night Out With Married Female Church Member

Reverend Michael Kofi Appiah, the founder of Light of Faith Ministry, was tragically found dead in a guest house in Takoradi, Ghana, following a night out with a female church member. The incident has sparked widespread concern and prompted an ongoing police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

According to reports, Reverend Appiah and the woman checked into the guest house around 10:00 p.m., where they reportedly ordered food and drinks. Staff became alarmed later in the night after hearing unusual calls for help, only to discover the pastor unresponsive in his room. Authorities and medical personnel were promptly notified, and the pastor was confirmed dead at the scene.

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The exact cause of death remains unclear, and an autopsy has been scheduled to determine the circumstances. Police are currently gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses, while urging the public to avoid speculation as investigations continue.

The pastor’s sudden death has shocked church members and the wider community, prompting an outpouring of condolences on social media. Many have expressed grief over the loss of a preacher who had a significant impact in Takoradi and beyond.

Authorities have assured that a thorough and transparent investigation will be conducted to ascertain what led to the tragedy, including examining any possible foul play. Meanwhile, the pastor’s remains have been transferred to the morgue pending the outcome of official inquiries.

This incident comes amid rising concern over safety and accountability in public and private spaces, highlighting the need for careful monitoring and investigation whenever such sudden deaths occur.

Pastor Found Dead in Guest House After Night Out With Married Female Church Member

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Nasarawa Communal Violence: 11 Killed, 52 Houses Burnt in Reprisal Attack

Published

42 minutes ago

April 4, 2026

Trends Admin

Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed

Nasarawa Communal Violence: 11 Killed, 52 Houses Burnt in Reprisal Attack

Nasarawa State — At least 11 people have been killed and 52 houses burnt in a reprisal attack by suspected hoodlums in Akyawa and Udege Kasa communities of Nasarawa Local Government Area. The attack, which occurred on Friday, was reportedly in retaliation for the alleged killing of two kinsmen, highlighting ongoing communal tensions in central Nigeria.

The Nasarawa State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement by SP Ramhan Nansel, the state police spokesperson. He said the hoodlums went on a destructive rampage, killing residents and setting their homes ablaze. “In the course of the attack, 11 people were killed, while about 52 houses were burnt in the two communities,” Nansel stated.

CP Shetima Mohammed, the state Commissioner of Police, led a team to the affected areas to assess the destruction and reassure residents. He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and property and commiserated with the victims’ families, pledging the police command’s commitment to ensuring justice.

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To contain the situation, the CP ordered an intensive manhunt for the perpetrators, directing tactical teams and investigative units to promptly identify, arrest, and prosecute the hoodlums responsible. Security personnel were reinforced in the affected communities to prevent further escalation.

Police efforts are being conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to provide adequate protection and restore lasting peace. During a stakeholders’ meeting, the CP urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding, and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could aid ongoing investigations.

Authorities say that normalcy has largely been restored, but residents remain on edge as they begin the process of rebuilding their homes and livelihoods. Analysts warn that communal disputes over land, livestock, and alleged killings continue to fuel cycles of retaliation in Nasarawa and other parts of the Middle Belt.

This latest reprisal attack underscores the urgent need for improved security measures, early warning systems, and community engagement to prevent similar tragedies in the region.

Nasarawa Communal Violence: 11 Killed, 52 Houses Burnt in Reprisal Attack

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Final-Year UNIJOS Student Discovered Dead Following Attack Near Campus

Published

50 minutes ago

April 4, 2026

Trends Admin

Adeyemo Oluwafemi Temitope

Final-Year UNIJOS Student Discovered Dead Following Attack Near Campus

Jos, Plateau State — The remains of Adeyemo Oluwafemi Temitope, a 500‑level quantity surveying student of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), have been confirmed dead, three days after he was reported missing amid escalating insecurity in Jos. The tragic news was first shared by his close friend, Meshak Gimba, a 400‑level psychology student, via social media on Friday.

Gimba explained that he had initially posted Temitope’s photograph online to help locate him but later received a call directing him to the University of Jos Teaching Hospital, where the body was discovered. According to hospital officials, Temitope was allegedly attacked by unknown assailants at Bauchi Junction, near the UNIJOS hostels, while returning from the market.

UNIJOS authorities, including the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, and the university’s Chief Security Officer, Agama Solomon, confirmed the incident. Solomon said the university management verified the body at the hospital and contacted the family to commence arrangements for a joint burial.

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Temitope’s death comes amid a spike in violence in Jos, particularly following a bandit attack in Angwan Rukuba on March 29, which claimed at least 28 lives and injured several others. The Plateau State Government subsequently imposed a 48-hour curfew on parts of Jos North Local Government Area, though fresh tension continued to rise in the city.

In response to the growing insecurity, UNIJOS ordered all students to evacuate hostels immediately and suspended scheduled examinations until after the Easter break. The university also coordinated with security agencies to ensure student safety and liaised with state governments to assist in relocating students, especially those from neighbouring states.

State authorities, including the Kogi and Benue governments, assisted in evacuating their students from UNIJOS to protect them from potential attacks. Security agencies in Plateau intensified patrols and intelligence operations around university campuses and high-risk areas to prevent further incidents.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) also provided relief materials, including food and medical supplies, to support victims and displaced residents affected by the recent attacks. Community leaders and student associations have called for enhanced security measures to ensure the safety of students and restore normalcy in the Plateau State capital.

The tragic killing of Adeyemo Temitope underscores the urgent need for stronger protection of academic institutions and civilian areas in Jos as residents continue to face threats from bandits and armed assailants.