Tinubu's Presence at APC Campaign Council Inauguration Disputed by Odinkalu; Presidency Responds

The Presidency has denied a claim by human rights lawyer Chidi Odinkalu that President Bola Tinubu was not physically at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on Wednesday.

Odinkalu accused Mr Tinubu of using a pre-recorded video for his speech at the event, despite the presence of political leaders and media coverage.

He made this claim in a post on X early Thursday, sharing a video of Mr Tinubu at the inauguration.

“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,” he stated.

Odinkalu also said the transitions in the video seemed “un-natural” and described the camera work as “a production,” calling the event “an orchestration.”

“The parties to the crime are many. Let them produce the clip of his promenade & a wide angle,” he added.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the APC held its Presidential Campaign Council inauguration on Wednesday at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, marking the start of preparations for the 2027 presidential election.

This newspaper can confirm that Mr Tinubu was indeed present at the event, which goes against Odinkalu’s assertion.

Bayo Onanuga, the President’s special adviser on Information and Strategy, responded to Odinkalu’s post. He accused him of letting politics affect his judgement.

“You’ve let partisanship cloud your vision and judgement. 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,” Mr Onanuga said.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, also rejected Odinkalu’s claim, calling it an “outrageous claim.”

Mr Keyamo compared it to a past conspiracy theory from former President Muhammadu Buhari's time. He recalled claims that Buhari had died during medical treatment in London and was replaced by a body double called Jubril from Sudan.

“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 medical treatment in London in 2017 and was replaced by a cloned body double or lookalike called Jubril from Sudan,” he said.

“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 were pre-recorded.

“Meanwhile, both the local and international Press physically covered the event LIVE.

“I really don’t know whether to laugh or to cry.”

Mr Keyamo further accused opposition figures of signs of “mental distress,” a comment that could heighten the political tensions over this claim.

Many users on X also criticized Mr Odinkalu. They questioned why he would say the President was absent when the event was covered by the media.

One user, @gbengagiwa_tt, suggested that Odinkalu should seek help. He pointed out that the activist could have confirmed the President’s presence through media outlets that covered the event.

“He has many avenues to confirm the authenticity of the physical appearance of President Tinubu at yesterday’s event, especially from his friend Rufai Oseni @ruffydfire, whose television station, @ARISEtv, covered the event live, yet he chose to take this embarrassing route, despite calling himself a Professor,” the user stated.

Another user, @cmpoba, urged Mr Odinkalu to delete his post. He questioned how Mr Tinubu could have been absent when other attendees interacted with him.

“If President @officialABAT wasn’t there, who did Prof Soludo @CCSoludo, the Anambra State Governor, shake hands with? Everything is not propaganda,” the user said.

User @oluomokolade linked Odinkalu’s claim to earlier conspiracy theories about Mr Buhari’s absence from public events during his administration.

“A group of people groomed with a culture of conspiracy-driven lies and hatred claimed it was Jibrin of Sudan that was in Aso Rock instead of PMB,” the user said.

“That group has started with their mischief again. It’s very pathetic, the extent of hate in them.”

Odinkalu’s claim and the reactions that followed have sparked discussions on social media about unverified allegations in political talk as the 2027 elections approach.