The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked Nigerians and the international community to disregard what it called the simulated audio recording of the voices of its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, his running mate, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa and director-general of the Presidential Campaign Council, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, purportedly plotting how to rig the election.
The party described the audio recording as another pathetical fabrication by the sinking All Progressives Congress (APC).
The national publicity secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, said the fake audio recording was evidently part of the reprehensive, repulsive and foul design of the APC which had recruited hackers to produce and circulate fake media materials with a view to demonising the PDP and its candidate before Nigerians ahead of the election.
“From the manipulated sound speed and pitch, it is clear that the recording was computer created and simulated to blackmail our leaders and deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
“It is laughable for the APC to want Nigerians to believe that Atiku Abubakar, Gov Okowa and Gov Tambuwal who know themselves, can be calling their own names in a conversation as heard in the fake audio recording. Such further betrays the recording as an amateur simulation work.
“Moreover, the APC has failed in this attempt to fool Nigerians by using artificial intelligence to clone and mimic the voices of our leaders as Nigerians are smart enough to detect the distorted wave forms and sound pitch that typify an artificial intelligence simulated speech.”
“The PDP urges Nigerians to remain focused and not be distracted in their determination to rescue our nation at this critical time,” he said.
In a related development, the director of Voter Intelligence and Strategy
Atiku/Okowa PCC, Osita Chidoka, has said the party is investigating the source of the fake audio, adding that they would share the identity of the source with law enforcement agencies for prosecution for spreading fake news.
Chidoka in a statement said audio recording was an effort by a losing desperate party to distort public opinion using cheap technology to doctor and re-engineer audio and video recordings.
“We ask all our supporters to remain calm and prepare to head to the poll units tomorrow. The decision of who leads Nigeria will be made at the polls not behind software applications,” he said.
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