A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali, has distanced himself from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing as fake and malicious an image circulating on social media linking him to the opposition party.

In a statement,  Alkali described the image, which allegedly showed him in a setting linked to PDP members, as “fake, manipulated, and the product of a malicious act”.

According to him, the image being circulated on WhatsApp and other platforms was intended to mislead the public and create confusion about his political affiliation.

The former New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) chairman said: “The image falsely links me with PDP colours and symbols at an event unknown to me.

“Let me state clearly and unequivocally that this image is fake, manipulated, and the product of a malicious act.” According to Alkali, the timing of the report coincided with his participation at the APC National Convention at Eagle Square, Abuja.

He said he attended the APC convention not as an observer but in an official capacity as Chairman of the Rapporteur and Proceedings Sub-Committee, contributing to the success of the event. He said: “For over four decades in public life, I have avoided needless controversies, but this incident is too serious to ignore.”