metro

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.”

READ ALSO:

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

READ ALSO:

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.

READ ALSO:

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.

Up Next

VOTE BUYING: Army intercepts N2m cash being taken to politician in Bauchi

Don't Miss

INEC shifts Enugu senatorial poll to March 11

metro

Seven Killed in Horrific Crash at Ota Toll Gate

Published

7 hours ago

February 17, 2026

Trends Admin

File photo

Seven Killed in Horrific Crash at Ota Toll Gate

– Brake Failure Suspected as Governor Orders Immediate Probe

Tragedy struck on Tuesday morning as seven persons lost their lives and two others sustained injuries in a multiple-vehicle crash at the busy Ota Toll Gate along the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway.

The fatal collision, which occurred during peak traffic hours, reportedly involved a fully loaded trailer suspected to have suffered brake failure before ramming into smaller vehicles, including a commercial tricycle and a mini-bus. Eyewitness accounts described scenes of panic as the out-of-control truck ploughed into vehicles waiting near the toll gate.

Emergency responders from the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigeria Police swiftly arrived at the scene to rescue victims and clear the wreckage.

The injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention, while the remains of the deceased were deposited at a state mortuary.

“The truck was speeding and suddenly lost control. People were shouting and running for safety,” an eyewitness told reporters at the scene.

READ ALSO:

In a statement issued hours after the incident, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and ordered a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the crash. He condemned reckless driving and poor vehicle maintenance, particularly among heavy-duty truck operators.

“This avoidable tragedy underscores the urgent need for strict adherence to traffic regulations and proper vehicle maintenance,” the governor stated.

Motorists experienced heavy gridlock along the expressway as officials worked for several hours to restore normal traffic flow. Authorities have reiterated calls for drivers to exercise caution and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy before embarking on journeys.

The Lagos–Abeokuta corridor, especially around Sango–Ota, has witnessed repeated fatal accidents over the years, raising concerns among residents and commuters about road safety enforcement and infrastructure conditions.

Investigations into the exact cause of Tuesday’s crash are ongoing.

Seven Killed in Horrific Crash at Ota Toll Gate

metro

Lagos Woman Shares Ordeal After Alleged Rape, Sparks Nationwide Outcry

Published

8 hours ago

February 17, 2026

Trends Admin

TikToker and aesthetic vendor, Mirabel

Lagos Woman Shares Ordeal After Alleged Rape, Sparks Nationwide Outcry

A young woman identified as Mirabel has shared a harrowing account of a near-death experience following an alleged rape attack in her apartment in Lagos, triggering widespread outrage and calls for justice.

In a video posted on TikTok under the handle @mirab351, Mirabel said the incident occurred on Sunday morning after she opened her door, believing it was a neighbour. According to her account, she was overpowered and lost consciousness during the attack.

She later said she regained awareness to find an intruder assaulting her. The assailant allegedly left her injured before fleeing. Mirabel explained that she initially thought the bleeding she noticed afterward was menstrual, until she received disturbing messages from a man she identified as the suspect.

READ ALSO:

Screenshots shared by the victim show the suspect boasting about the attack and making threats intended to discourage her from seeking justice. The messages, which have circulated widely online, have drawn strong condemnation from the public.

In a follow-up video, Mirabel appeared visibly distressed and disclosed that she attempted to harm herself afterward but was rushed to hospital by a friend and survived. She thanked those who reached out in support and said she needed time to recover before engaging further.

The case has sparked an outpouring of sympathy from Nigerians across social media, with many demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of the suspect and renewed action against sexual violence. Advocacy groups and citizens are urging law enforcement to ensure accountability and protect survivors.

Mirabel’s story has reignited conversations about women’s safety, survivor support, and the need for swift justice in Nigeria.

If you or someone you know is in danger or struggling after an assault, please seek immediate help from trusted people or local emergency services.

Lagos Woman Shares Ordeal After Alleged Rape, Sparks Nationwide Outcry

metro

BREAKING: Drama in NASS as Reps Clash Over Backup Manual Result Collation

Published

11 hours ago

February 17, 2026

Trends Admin

Speaker, House of Reps, Tajudeen Abbas

BREAKING: Drama in NASS as Reps Clash Over Backup Manual Result Collation

Abuja — Tension erupted at the National Assembly on Tuesday as opposition lawmakers staged a dramatic walkout in protest against the approval of manual collation of election results as a backup to electronic transmission.

The controversy unfolded during plenary when a motion seeking to adopt manual collation as a contingency measure in the event of technical failure of electronic transmission systems was presented for consideration. While the majority lawmakers supported the proposal, opposition members strongly objected, arguing that the move could undermine electoral transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.

Heated Debate on the Floor

The debate quickly grew intense as several opposition representatives warned that reintroducing manual collation, even as a backup, could open the door to manipulation and irregularities.

One opposition lawmaker described the decision as “a dangerous step backward,” insisting that Nigeria’s electoral reforms were designed to eliminate the flaws associated with manual processes. According to them, reliance on manual collation in previous elections had been a major source of disputes and litigation.

However, lawmakers from the majority caucus defended the proposal, stating that the backup option was necessary to safeguard the integrity of elections in situations where electronic systems malfunction due to network failure, cyber threats, or logistical challenges.

A ranking member of the majority party argued that “no responsible legislature should ignore the possibility of technical glitches,” stressing that manual collation would only serve as a last resort and not replace electronic transmission.

READ ALSO:

Dramatic Walkout

Following the Speaker’s ruling allowing the motion to proceed to approval by voice vote, opposition lawmakers rose from their seats in protest. Chanting “No to manual manipulation” and “Protect our votes,” they exited the chamber en masse.

The walkout temporarily disrupted proceedings, drawing reactions from observers and legislative aides present in the gallery.

Despite the protest, the remaining lawmakers proceeded to adopt the motion, effectively approving manual collation as a backup mechanism pending further legislative fine-tuning and possible amendments to the electoral framework.

Implications for Electoral Reform

The development is expected to generate significant political debate across party lines and among civil society organizations. Advocacy groups have consistently pushed for full electronic transmission of results to minimize human interference and enhance credibility.

Political analysts say the decision could become a flashpoint ahead of future elections, especially given past controversies surrounding result collation.

As of press time, leaders of the opposition caucus were reportedly preparing a joint press briefing to outline their position and next steps, including the possibility of seeking judicial interpretation if the approval translates into legislative amendments.

Further updates will follow as the situation develops.