FNC candidate apologises over plagiarised campaign video

A Federal National Council candidate has apologised for plagiarising the campaign message of a woman running for office in Oman.

Dr Sheikha Al Shehhi, who is standing in Ras Al Khaimah, spoke out after it was discovered that sections of a statement used by the Omani candidate, Basma Mubarak, had been lifted for use in her own video post released on Friday.

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Dr Al Shehhi said she had no intention to replicate the Omani candidate's words, stating a mistake had been made by her campaign team.

She issued an apology to the "fraternal Omani nation" on Twitter, praising Ms Mubarak and wishing her luck in country's upcoming consultative assembly elections.

The issue was highlighted by Oman News Network, which has more than 850,000 followers on Twitter.

The media outlet produced a video comparing the two video messages, noting the similarities.

In Ms Mubarak's video, she introduces herself by saying: "My decision to nominate myself, was not made today."

The sentence is repeated word-for-word by Dr Al Shehhi.

Ms Mubarak goes on to say that the decision to stand was a result of consecutive efforts and a series of legal and civil activities that she has carried out over the past 15 years.

“I nominate myself because you deserve a real political experience,” she states.

Dr Al Shehhi, who works as a notary public in the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, repeats every single line in her message.

Ms Mubarak accepted Dr Al Shehhi's apology in a post on Twitter.

When contacted by The National, Dr Al Shehhi said the issue was resolved within an hour and said she wished to make no further comment.

The incident drew mixed reactions on social media, with a number of people agreed that it was an honest mistake.

One respondent compared the situation to that of US First Lady Melania Trump in the 2016 Republican National Convention, where she unknowingly delivered a speech similar to Michelle Obama’s 2008 Democratic National Convention speech.

A total of 493 candidates are set to contest the October 5 election, with 20 seats on the legislative council decided by public vote and the remaining 20 to be decided by ruling sheikhs from the emirates.