A leaked audio recording allegedly involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Isa Ashiru, has stirred fresh controversy within the party, with supporters divided over its authenticity and political implications.
The audio, which has been widely circulated on social media, allegedly captures a phone conversation between Ashiru and an elder from Southern Kaduna. In the recording, the speaker is heard making remarks critical of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who is regarded as a leading figure in the ADC.
Despite the growing controversy, Aisha El-Rufai, wife of the former governor, has publicly reaffirmed her support for Ashiru. In a post shared on her verified Facebook page, she dismissed attempts to create division within the party.
“No retreat, no surrender. Kicking and struggling do not prevent death. Audio, letters, videos—whatever they are—even if Isa Ashiru will deal with not only Malam El-Rufai but the whole family. I said it is only one term; there will be no reverse, God willing,” she wrote.
The authenticity of the leaked recording has not been independently verified, and there is no confirmation that the voice belongs to Ashiru or that he made the statements attributed to him.
In the recording, the speaker allegedly claims that joining the ADC was largely a political strategy to secure the party’s governorship ticket, arguing that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had become deeply divided by internal crises and legal disputes.
The speaker also reportedly suggests that his alliance with El-Rufai was driven by political necessity rather than personal conviction and claims the former governor has become politically isolated within the party.
Reacting to the development, a senior ADC figure in Kaduna North and ally of Ashiru, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorised to comment publicly, dismissed the recording as fabricated.
The party stalwart argued that advances in artificial intelligence have made it easier to manipulate audio recordings, accusing political opponents of doctoring the clip in an attempt to damage Ashiru’s reputation ahead of future elections.
Meanwhile, another party source told Daily Trust that loyalists of El-Rufai met on Sunday to assess the situation and reassure members that their support for the former governor remains unwavering.
“As loyalists of El-Rufai within the party, we met today to discuss the issue and to make it clear that our loyalty remains with him. We will do everything within our powers to protect his image in Kaduna State,” the source said.
The source added that another meeting would be held to determine the next steps for El-Rufai’s supporters within the ADC.
As of the time of filing this report, Ashiru had not issued an official response to the leaked audio. Attempts to reach him by telephone were unsuccessful, while text and WhatsApp messages sent to him had not received a response.
Ashiru has remained a familiar figure in Kaduna politics over the past decade. He lost the 2015 All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary to El-Rufai before defecting to the PDP, where he secured the party’s governorship ticket in 2015, 2019 and 2023. He lost each of those elections—twice to El-Rufai and most recently to Governor Uba Sani. After joining the ADC, he has now emerged as the party’s governorship candidate for a fourth consecutive election cycle.
