A media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed a viral video circulating online in which the politician allegedly promises a massive financial giveaway to Nigerians, describing it as a scam generated using Artificial Intelligence.
Paul Ibe, who serves as spokesperson to the former Vice President and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, clarified that the video is fake and did not originate from Atiku or his team.
In the widely shared clip, an AI-generated voice resembling Atiku’s is heard saying:
“I will be giving massive giveaway this month and selecting people at random as a way of showing support to every average Nigerian out there… Simply drop your details and sign up.”
Reacting swiftly, Ibe distanced his principal from what he described as a “shambolic empowerment scheme,” warning Nigerians not to be deceived.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, he emphasized that Atiku remains committed to collaborating with credible Nigerians who share a vision for national development, but has no connection whatsoever with the purported giveaway.
“His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, believes in a better Nigeria,” Ibe wrote.
“To this end, he is working with others who believe in, and are committed to the Nigeria of our dream. However, we wish to alert Nigerians that this scheme is a ‘wayo’ (scam). Don’t fall for it. Their plan is to extort your hard-earned money and compromise your data. Kindly ignore, please.”
The rebuttal comes amid rising cases of AI-generated political impersonation and online fraud, with public figures increasingly targeted in schemes designed to exploit unsuspecting citizens. Authorities have repeatedly urged Nigerians to verify information from official channels before engaging with online promotions or financial offers.
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