Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has challenged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to present evidence of his contributions to infrastructure development in northern Nigeria, while accusing opposition politicians of increasingly relying on artificial intelligence (AI) for campaign activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Sani made the remarks on Saturday in Kaduna during the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign, where he urged party supporters to remain alert to what he described as the opposition’s growing use of AI-driven political messaging.
“The opposition have now upgraded their campaign from Facebook and Twitter to AI,” the governor said, calling on APC supporters to be vigilant.
Although he did not mention Atiku by name in every instance, Sani appeared to direct much of his criticism at the ADC presidential candidate, questioning his record in office and arguing that northern identity alone should not determine voters’ choices.
According to the governor, the former vice president should demonstrate the tangible projects he facilitated for the North-East during his time in government. He specifically challenged Atiku to identify 200 kilometres of roads delivered for the region during his tenure.
In contrast, Sani praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, claiming that more than 1,000 kilometres of roads had been constructed in northern Nigeria under the current government. He also cited ongoing work on the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari road, a 123-kilometre project he said had received ₦117 billion for reconstruction.
The governor further highlighted the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Expressway project, which he said was 95 per cent complete, alongside the proposed metropolitan rail project for Kaduna, for which he stated that $865 million had been approved.
Sani also recalled Tinubu’s visit to Birnin Gwari Local Government Area in December 2022, when insecurity was a major concern in the area. He credited the president with improvements in security, claiming that travelling through the community had become considerably easier.
At the rally, the governor also commended Vice President Kashim Shettima, telling him that his role in the administration would be remembered for its contribution to northern development.
Meanwhile, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, expressed confidence in the party’s support across northern Nigeria. He declared that the region was firmly behind Tinubu and pointed to January 16, 2027, as a date when the party expected to see the outcome of its campaign efforts.
The Kaduna rally forms part of the APC’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election, with infrastructure delivery, security and the credibility of campaign messaging emerging as key issues in the contest.
Sani’s allegations concerning AI use by opposition parties and his claims about the administration’s development record were not independently substantiated in the account of the rally. The competing parties’ positions and verifiable project records remain important to assessing the claims.
