South African lifestyle influencer and adult content creator Leshaan Dagama has pushed back against claims by former Edo State governor and senator, Adams Oshiomhole, that a viral video linking him to her was artificially generated.
The controversy erupted after a short video circulated widely on social media showing a man resembling Oshiomhole in a relaxed setting, engaging in casual conversation with a woman whose feet rested on his lap as he massaged them. The clip quickly drew public attention and intense debate online.
Dagama was later identified as the woman in the video after initial speculation wrongly linked the footage to Lara Fortes, wife of the senator representing Edo North. Reports indicate that Dagama had originally posted the video on her TikTok page before deleting it.
Public reaction was swift and polarised. While some Nigerians criticised what they viewed as an image of excess and comfort at a time of economic hardship, others referenced Oshiomhole’s recent controversial comment suggesting that food prices were becoming “too cheap,” using the video to mock the remark.
In response to the backlash, Oshiomhole’s media aide, Oseni Momodu, released a statement dismissing the footage as a “poorly crafted AI-generated” video. The statement described the circulation of the clip as cyberbullying, criticised media platforms for sharing unverified content, and said steps were being taken to trace those responsible for creating and spreading it.
Dagama, however, directly challenged that position. In a post on her Instagram story, she rejected the claim that the video was generated using artificial intelligence, writing sarcastically: “Video wasn’t AI but okay believe your senator,” accompanied by a smiling emoji.
She also addressed the wider criticism directed at her, urging Nigerians to focus their anger on public officials rather than her involvement. “Your senator is the problem. Go be mad at him, not me,” she wrote in an earlier post.
As reactions continue to unfold online, the incident has reignited conversations around public accountability, misinformation, and the growing tendency to attribute viral content to artificial intelligence amid political controversies.
