By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
A political pressure group has raised alarm over what it described as an attempt to manipulate public perception through the alleged secret editing of a withdrawal statement linked to Kogi West senatorial aspirant, Sam Aro.
The group, led by its chairman, Hon. David Emmanuel, specifically accused Nda Aaron, an associate of the aspirant, of quietly editing a social media post originally published on Monday, May 18, concerning Aro’s withdrawal from the political contest.
Addressing journalists, Hon. David Emmanuel alleged that the controversial edit was carried out late at night after many users had gone offline, allegedly in a bid to alter the original narrative surrounding the withdrawal announcement.
According to him, the development raises serious concerns about transparency and credibility within the political camp of the aspirant, whom critics have described as “an aspirant by circumstance.”
He further noted that Meta’s transparency tools preserve both original and edited versions of posts, making it difficult for public figures or their associates to erase previously published statements without scrutiny.
“We are warning against attempts to mislead the public through silent edits and digital manipulation of sensitive political statements. Nigerians are more informed now, and the internet keeps records,” Hon. David Emmanuel stated.
The group called on political actors to maintain honesty and consistency in their public communications, stressing that accountability remains critical in democratic engagement.
Meanwhile, screenshots allegedly showing differences between the original post and the edited version have continued to circulate online, attracting reactions from supporters and critics alike.
Political observers believe the controversy may deepen existing tensions within the camp and further damage public trust among party supporters.
