Leaked Audio Allegedly Involving ADC Candidate Sparks Political Controversy in Kaduna

A leaked audio recording allegedly featuring the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna State, Isa Ashiru, has stirred political controversy, with party loyalists dismissing the recording as fabricated while supporters of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai reaffirmed their loyalty to him.

The audio, widely circulated on social media, is said to contain a conversation between Ashiru and an elder from Southern Kaduna, in which the speaker allegedly criticises El-Rufai and suggests that joining the ADC was primarily a political strategy to secure the party's governorship ticket.

However, the authenticity of the recording has not been independently verified, and there is no confirmation that the voice in the audio belongs to Ashiru.

Reacting to the development, a senior ADC figure in Kaduna described the recording as fake, alleging that it may have been manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI) to damage Ashiru's reputation ahead of future political contests.

Meanwhile, supporters of El-Rufai held a meeting on Sunday, where they reaffirmed their commitment to defending the former governor's image and maintaining their support for him within the party.

Despite the controversy, Aisha El-Rufai, wife of the former governor, publicly declared her support for Ashiru's governorship ambition, insisting that nothing would change her position.

As of the time of filing the report, Ashiru had not issued an official statement on the leaked audio, while attempts by journalists to reach him by phone and WhatsApp were unsuccessful.

Ashiru, who previously contested multiple governorship elections under the PDP before joining the ADC, is now seeking the Kaduna governorship ticket under the ADC for the fourth time.

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