{"id":23776,"date":"2025-07-30T18:51:19","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T17:51:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/?p=23776"},"modified":"2025-07-30T18:51:21","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T17:51:21","slug":"ai-generated-disinformation-looms-ahead-of-nigerias-2027-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/ai-generated-disinformation-looms-ahead-of-nigerias-2027-elections\/","title":{"rendered":"AI-generated disinformation looms ahead of Nigeria\u2019s 2027 elections"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Days after gunmen slaughtered over 100 villagers in Benue State, Enoche was scrolling through her Facebook posts at a roadside barbers\u2019 shop in Abuja while her husband was having a haircut, when suddenly her timeline popped with a chilling video which \u201cexposed\u201d Nigerian soldiers in full military gear guarding cows in \u201cVIP format.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The footage, styled like a news broadcast, showed herds of cattle lounging on a stretch of plush green grass in Yelwata, her hometown, where the carnage occurred. A stern-voiced anchor clenched a microphone and claimed, &#8220;The army prioritises cows over human lives.&#8221; Enoche\u2019s scrolling thumb froze mid-air. She stared at the footage with her heart sinking, raging with fire and fury simultaneously. It looked like a scene from a Nollywood thriller, but it appeared provocatively true.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By the time Enoche shared the content with an acquaintance who fact-checked such claims for verification, the video had gone far, moving from WhatsApp to Telegram with the speed of outrage. In the end, it was a confirmed AI-generated deepfake.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a country already grappling with farmer-herder tensions, displaced communities, and a fragile security architecture, that video was the clearest warning yet that Nigeria\u2019s 2027 elections are walking straight into a storm of synthetic deception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Nigeria approaches its 2027 general elections, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/388659930_Deepfake_Technology_and_Cybersecurity_Threats_in_Nigeria\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">proliferation of deepfake technology<\/a> on social media platforms like X, TikTok, and Facebook has begun seeding the early stages of AI-driven disinformation campaigns targeting the country\u2019s upcoming polls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This report uncovers accounts actively experimenting with deepfake political content. This seriously threatens the integrity of elections and potentially undermines the foundation of democratic trust.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The accounts and activities include local partisan operatives experimenting with generative AI tools to sway public opinion, fake celebrity validation, trails of foreign influence and the covert role of social media \u2018influencers\u2019 in amplifying foreign-themed synthetic content.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From meticulously crafted deepfakes to deceptively simple shallowfakes engineered to inflame tensions, assassinate character, manufacture viral controversy, and stoke the most divisive narratives imaginable, Nigerian social media timelines now surge with AI-generated fabrications.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 2023 presidential election served as a <a href=\"https:\/\/securityandtechnology.org\/blog\/qa-hannah-ajakaiye\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">chilling preview<\/a>, an &#8220;inundation&#8221; of AI-generated content that presented a new challenge for government and journalists. <a href=\"https:\/\/thrivemediaafrica.com\/2024\/08\/20\/which-social-media-platforms-are-nigerians-using-the-most-in-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">With 95%<\/a> of online Nigerians using WhatsApp, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/1319128\/main-social-media-brands-for-news-in-nigeria\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">64%<\/a> relying on social media for their political news, and social media political campaigns <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.e-palli.com\/home\/index.php\/ajahs\/article\/download\/3226\/2076\/27088\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">playing a significant<\/a> role in persuading voters in the 2023 general elections, the fertile ground for disinformation is well established and unmistakable. This <a href=\"https:\/\/reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk\/digital-news-report\/2025\/nigeria\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">widespread<\/a> digital illiteracy means that a substantial portion of the population <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/chiefnarx\/status\/1934209731306144226?t=dcSvyjDK9teK-2QiBq3FDw&amp;s=19\">struggles to differentiate<\/a> between genuine and fabricated content, leaving them highly susceptible to deception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From slapstick posts of Nigeria\u2019s President Bola Tinubu being <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/v\/1APPSpEAwj\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">whisked<\/a> by \u2018Interpol\u2019 at Eagle Square to the President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/v\/1B7fpTtibd\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">harassing<\/a> suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalaye Fubara and embracing FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, or former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Tinubu <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/r\/1ErWgCUw5E\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">in a fistfight<\/a>, and former ruling party (APC) Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, being <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/r\/16nNef7LrV\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hounded<\/a>, what is at stake is not just about electoral outcomes but palpable mayhem. A fabricated video, for instance, depicting a candidate inciting violence, could in Nigeria&#8217;s politically unstable environment quickly <a href=\"https:\/\/humanglemedia.com\/how-misinformation-aggravates-farmers-herders-conflict-in-nigeria\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lead to bloodshed<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXeOUwTW5mx87z_4P-VlCqwIdaR9hwiw2fMil-smHoAYg5opQ7NqM41MMzofELErRnYTJLpYJ7CgvRpnQ_j2lei8jKElrJrsBC45miJzv1mvjaR6zjrrhJqC-EDH1SROUzSrEpiV?key=F6rlpJeyobk0xOfy1SBhTQ\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Screenshot from an AI-generated slapstick content of President Tinubu being whisked away by the police.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Waves of AI-driven propaganda flood X<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A January 2025 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deloitte.com\/content\/dam\/assets-zone2\/uk\/en\/docs\/industries\/technology-media-telecommunications\/2025\/deloitte-the-rise-of-deepfakes-january.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a> by Deloitte reveals the alarming rise of synthetic media created using AI to deceive, as well as its implications for digital platforms, technology firms, and society at large. It highlights the explosive 550% growth in deepfake content between 2019 and 2023, driven by increasingly accessible Generative AI tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The report reveals that 98% of deepfake content is related to adults, encompassing a range of issues, including fraud, disinformation, and reputational harm. It also flags the growing use of such content in political manipulation and misinformation campaigns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just six months after that report, one of many such examples of deepfakes as an active weapon in the information battlefield targeting public figures and hijacking political discourse surfaced. On July 10, 2025, the <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Waspapping_\">X account<\/a> Sarki (@Waspapping_) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Waspapping_\/status\/1943265734785671343?t=dk3O-XJdkQpbsjPQRX76hw&amp;s=19\">posted an image<\/a> that claimed to show former Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi and Abacha having tea together \u201cway back\u201d while a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/THETROJANBEAST\/status\/1943449729792123110?t=Za2LE_Aruvst4m55h_x0EA&amp;s=19\">follow-up video<\/a> of the photo posted by <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/THETROJANBEAST\">X account<\/a> THE TROJAN BEAST (@THETROJANBEAST) under the thread, added further manipulation to the original post. The content surfaced on the same day Mr. Obi <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vanguardngr.com\/2025\/07\/peter-obi-denies-meeting-abacha-releases-appointment-letter-from-junta\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">denied<\/a> meeting the late General Sani Abacha, the former Head of State, clarifying his relationship with the late ruler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXfp61pt-LRE0yzW1R_cb9Y48zk08xYm80eQu4wg8Ornbem-Grxph3WigaAGgaYAaKOf0B6Se7Z8QjajPs9g06ClsZ740cULDutYdTCJn7BRsvtysbEFZszo7gD8TqhRtIQuzzC7xg?key=F6rlpJeyobk0xOfy1SBhTQ\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Screenshot of the X post by Sarki (@Waspapping_) claiming to show a historic photo of Obi and Abacha together.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As of July 18, 2025, the content had generated about 134,000 views, 1,500 likes, and 40 bookmarks. <a href=\"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/image-purportedly-showing-peter-obi-with-abacha-ai-generated\/\">DUBAWA<\/a> and PRNigeria&#8217;s fact check <a href=\"https:\/\/prnigeria.com\/2025\/07\/18\/obi-picture-coffee-abacha\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">revealed<\/a> the content to be an AI-generated narrative that employed a delegitimisation tactic, leveraging historical grievances and falsely associating Obi with a figure widely <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sani_Abacha\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">associated <\/a>with democratic truncation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite being effectively debunked, the flames of toxic engagement had already been stoked. Obi\u2019s supporters alleged a coordinated campaign by rival political factions to smear their candidate. Reacting, CKing (@Obidient_Police) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Obedient_Police\/status\/1943354251360477434\">accused<\/a> Atiku\u2019s followers of being behind the narrative, stating, \u201cThey have doctored the picture from someone else we know into Peter Obi\u2026 Atiku online thugs.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The video also resonated with people who believed it was genuine. A K I N O M O A K I N (@MichealAkinsuyi) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MichaelAkinsuyi\/status\/1943284433479700808\">said<\/a>, \u201cand he (Obi) said he never met Abacha in his lifetime. Peter Obi and Lie\u2026)\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/OkenwaGodsman\/status\/1943399067117117710\">Godsman Okenwa<\/a> (@OkenwaGodsman), on the other hand, towed the ethnic line. \u201cYaribaboon&#8217;s accounts are easy to identify. It surprises me how an entire tribe would be suffering from an inferiority complex,\u201d he replied.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u200eFurther investigation revealed that this is not the first instance of such <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/oladitwo68\/status\/1943601366049415221?s=08\">image<\/a> manipulation aimed at tarnishing political figures. A similar doctored image allegedly showing President <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FSYusuf_PO\/status\/1943260362163319186?t=eANm_LDesLIlvVZBqkoMCw&amp;s=08\">Bola Tinubu<\/a> with Abacha having tea in the same setting also made rounds on social media. In that case, too, no credible source validated the photograph&#8217;s authenticity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXeeOMIqnvFe009Rnex2hYes_SdydtURr6lEh8ei-Pa2ml5mxN_ayOtWOeuA2UpXkSG_ishtxDNHjNR-_1f-bqHgWxVJ53FcwpWOtNB-J2D67kV_yL5CBplbVtdr9Zsph4YsRBVq2A?key=F6rlpJeyobk0xOfy1SBhTQ\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A similar image of Bola Tinubu and Abacha having tea also made the rounds on social media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pattern suggests a deliberate strategy to tarnish reputations by linking current figures to Nigeria\u2019s authoritarian past, a tactic that could intensify as the 2027 election nears.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, the two major actors in this narrative appear to be active political influencers pushing a given narrative. While Sarki (@Waspapping_), whose timeline has several <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Al_ameeen_yabo\/status\/1946482168718393556\">posts <\/a>targeting the Obidients (Peter Obi supporters), describes himself as a \u201cVoice of the North! Reputation builder and seller!\u201d, his co-traveller in the thread THE TROJAN BEAST (@THETROJANBEAST) reports on politics and other subjects. His timeline is flooded with AI-generated content that appears to malign Mr Obi as seen <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/THETROJANBEAST\/status\/1946256131019416031\">here<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/THETROJANBEAST\/status\/1943380939570327969\">here<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/THETROJANBEAST\/status\/1946241397704810552\">here<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/THETROJANBEAST\/status\/1942929537844535607\">here<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/THETROJANBEAST\/status\/1940536927436013844\">here<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXcvygJLsw4xoRKqSiC8B2hxpXqJtwotU1NbWGjOnGNTQdj3gMnGVy6zxis_mJb9L9PqU7z1gGS5fBa2py5BHJOeqSIvx3ov-We3lqLc87IsgCxAJZGudD93Z0p8iHNdAEeDN9eQhQ?key=F6rlpJeyobk0xOfy1SBhTQ\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A mash-up of screenshots from AI-generated content by THE TROJAN BEAST (@THETROJANBEAST)\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Other waves of viral fakery on TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the aftermath of the <a href=\"https:\/\/prnigeria.com\/2025\/07\/13\/just-former-president\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">death <\/a>of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday, July 13, 2025, a TikTok user <a href=\"https:\/\/vm.tiktok.com\/ZMSGCyU7F\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shared a post<\/a> of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in a hospital bed, sick and seriously gasping for breath. However, Tinubu\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/prnigeria.com\/2025\/07\/15\/buhari-laid-rest-daura-tinubu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">public appearance<\/a> debunked the video as he was not only alive and well but also actively <a href=\"https:\/\/prnigeria.com\/2025\/07\/15\/tinubu-receives-buhari\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">participating<\/a> in Buhari\u2019s burial ceremonies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXeGxcd_E79stwcZDLxrosN4cXRT9wqHi7kkd10d5Is1MFMrLnXWMEGyDI2VZADkcl2VFJkLeq-99Uu_pNTV5jH5NKns1rb3jnJSBdFtIeYGocn4G7PX4Mzy3TkAyyo8jr3PPQTZ?key=F6rlpJeyobk0xOfy1SBhTQ\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A screenshot of the TikTok post portraying President Bola Tinubu as sick and bedridden following the death of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On March 5, 2024, at approximately 9:21 pm, a user <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/obehieguakhide\">identified as<\/a> PIED (@obehieguakhide) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/obehieguakhide\/status\/1765246372347785559?t=jU6RDX7ZB5J7fk4ZGJ7wAQ&amp;s=19\">shared<\/a> a 12-second video depicting an individual surmised to be the President of Nigeria. The caption read: \u201cBy the end of August, fuel will be sold at N 100 per litre\u2014Bola T, 2023.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI also want to tell Nigerians that things are now working fine and that by the end of August, fuel will be sold at 100 Naira per litre,\u201d the supposed president said in the clip.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As of July 17, 2025, the post had garnered 91,200 views, 540 reposts, 751 likes, and 72 bookmarks. Image and video forensic analysis revealed that the alleged clip was doctored and manipulated to spread a narrative. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=aBS_TfK9JQY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">original video <\/a>obtained from a Feb. 8, 2023, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) Dialogue was given a manipulated voiceover to mock Tinubu\u2019s governance. Many users fell for the gimmick, as Vivian Umukoro (@vian337) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/vian337\/status\/1765265407378624893?t=CdxvG0t0eFNsh3rmEEWIHQ&amp;s=19\">responded<\/a>, \u201cspeaking under the influence of something.\u201d The REFORMER (@Samreformer) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Samreformer\/status\/1765330030190559258?t=JvjWYNYce2daF_MhbS0hhg&amp;s=19\">wrote<\/a> \u201cstole people&#8217;s mandate and lost focus on what to do with it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On August 10, 2024, near the eve of the US Presidential elections, an 18-second <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Badinself\/status\/1822163058011021805?t=ScJ4eDH_fX_uIRtVSdxnmw&amp;s=19\">video was shared<\/a> by Bad Influence (@BadInfluence), an X account <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Badinself\">user<\/a>. The video purportedly shows the then-US presidential candidate, Donald Trump, \u201cbegging\u201d Nigerians to vote for him. Trump promised Nigerians a free visa to the US if they voted for him, promising \u201cfree VISA to the US&nbsp; for all Nigerians\u201d and to \u201cremove bad governance in Nigeria\u201d if they voted for him.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The post was shared by a TikTok account VeryDarkBlackMan09 (verydarkblackman09\u2014 now inactive), leveraging the controversial activist and social media influencer profile, via TikTok. The post pinned to the account&#8217;s profile garnered 73,500 likes, 17,700 shares, 6,696 comments, and 5,010 bookmarks at the time. However, the Cable Fact Check <a href=\"https:\/\/factcheck.thecable.ng\/fact-check-viral-video-of-trump-asking-nigerians-to-vote-for-him-is-ai-generated\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">found<\/a> that it was an AI-generated video.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXfDgehLpjKC1-1WA_gG28_-VKexjAOsCyUfhT0zI3tIsNe99xKmibuBrycmzaI-35o5mqDUmHJX36g-fKcefSrirkneMLMkYiTHg2Ex0Hbp9tyovjeXhjmEV4PVzYe33K_KwyWqRg?key=F6rlpJeyobk0xOfy1SBhTQ\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>A screenshot of the post by VDM account at the time. Credit: The Cable Fact Check.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It remains unclear whether the account was operated by the real VeryDarkBlackMan, as no official verification or confirmation linked the handle directly to the well-known influencer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On May 23, 2025, an <a href=\"https:\/\/vm.tiktok.com\/ZMStB23tq\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AI-generated deepfake clip<\/a> of US President Trump speaking extensively about Nigerian national life, particularly oil, politics, and the military, was shared on TikTok by BB Smart TV. The post got 8,000 likes, 920 comments, and 18,800 shares, prompting users like James Favour to write, \u201cNigeria is the country blocking the progress of Africa.\u201d The post&#8217;s 421,500 total views demonstrate its far reach and illustrate how global figures are weaponised to influence local politics.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More insidiously, on June 18, 2025, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/v\/198izz8XXn\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a deepfake video<\/a> in a broadcast news format emerged online, falsely claiming Nigerian soldiers were guarding cattle in VIP fashion in Yelwata, Benue State. This came just days after an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2025\/6\/14\/at-least-100-people-killed-in-gunmen-attack-in-nigeria-rights-group\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">overnight attack<\/a> in the same town left over 100 people dead. The video\u2019s caption, \u201c<em>Nigerian Army guarding cows in VIP format in Yelwata,<\/em>\u201d and the anchor\u2019s commentary suggesting preferential treatment for cattle over human lives were <a href=\"https:\/\/prnigeria.com\/2025\/07\/03\/soldiers-protecting-cattle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">debunked <\/a>by PRNigeria. This manipulation was aimed at stoking ethnic tensions that may further a destabilisation agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond political disinformation, generative AI has also been weaponised for celebrity and social hoaxes. A viral image of Peter Obi kneeling before Tinubu during Pope Leo XIV\u2019s inauguration <a href=\"https:\/\/prnigeria.com\/2025\/05\/20\/peter-obi-kneel-tinubu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">was digitally altered<\/a>. Similarly, a fabricated video of Senator Saliu Mustapha <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/1Y3RYuuibi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">endorsing<\/a> a Ponzi scheme used Arise TV and BBC overlays to lend <a href=\"https:\/\/prnigeria.com\/2025\/06\/13\/senator-endorse-ponzi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">false<\/a> credibility. AI-generated videos falsely <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/HOxgVHCYaVE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">linked<\/a> Burna Boy with Burkina Faso\u2019s junta, claiming Tiwa Savage <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/29t3dVUAGrg?si=2iemMQYEaOe8a-pk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">released a tribute song<\/a> for late President Buhari.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other videos claimed Nigeria was <a href=\"https:\/\/vm.tiktok.com\/ZMSthRoMg\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sending troops<\/a> to Israel or reported a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/blaccmajek\/status\/1934169455371702523?t=S4FxJc_0HWxoH-OsAev3Fg&amp;s=19\">fake <\/a>flood in Abeokuta, raising public concern that \u201cNa AI go finish us for this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Shallowfakes are equally dangerous<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mimicking the techniques of \u201cshallow fakes,\u201d AI-generated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/r\/1YePBtCZBf\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dances<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/r\/1BHrqprLmQ\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">slapstick arrests<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/r\/1X8ertbp38\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">satirical boxing<\/a> matches between real politicians\u2014often accompanied by manipulated songs in vernacular languages\u2014may provide comic relief, but they also serve as intermediaries for serious disinformation campaigns. Each meme or parody, regardless of its apparent triviality, contributes cumulatively to the climate of disbelief and cynicism, where even genuine news is met with instant scepticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Videos like <a href=\"https:\/\/vm.tiktok.com\/ZMSGCrR5F\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this on TikTok<\/a> claiming that the President of Nigeria has declared free \u201copua\u201d for all the youth going through hard times may contribute to the overall ecosystem. \u201cOpua\u201d suggests the act of engaging in sex as applied in the context of emerging local slang.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other examples may be this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/r\/15DWMccZsV\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AI voice rendition song<\/a> on of the Bollywood blockbuster film <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NgBoMJy386M\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">RRR<\/a> in Telegu language that translates, \u201cTinubu you are ours but you betrayed us. With or without you, we will triumph,\u201d or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/r\/1AuVduAZAC\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tinubu endorsing <\/a>the use of cocaine and hard drugs in Hausa language, \u201ccalling on guys to sniff \u201cwiwi (drugs)\u201d to the extreme, and another <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/r\/1EjAoskECX\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">video of him<\/a> addressing in Hause language despite his linguistic limitations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other examples include a <a href=\"https:\/\/vm.tiktok.com\/ZMSDTDsdG\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">video of him and the late Buhari<\/a> enjoying the soft life, <a href=\"https:\/\/vm.tiktok.com\/ZMSGVyW2a\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">him and Senate President <\/a>Godswill Akpabio and a <a href=\"https:\/\/vm.tiktok.com\/ZMSDTnAVT\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">similar one<\/a> of Peter Obi.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In his reaction, Abdoll_Pc on Instagram wrote in Hausa and translated in English that, \u201cJonathan and Buhari have escaped. Their time, there was no crazy AI, they would have collected back-to-back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Deepfakes \u2014 A blast from before&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the heated 2023 Nigerian presidential race, deepfakes were <a href=\"https:\/\/prnigeria.com\/2023\/02\/24\/atiku-okowa-election\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">predominantly used <\/a>for negative manipulation, serving as mudslinging tools to tarnish opponents. Some of these deepfakes were also deployed to <a href=\"https:\/\/factcheck.afp.com\/doc.afp.com.336Z8Q6?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">enhance a candidate&#8217;s image<\/a>. One of the most impactful incidents involved a manipulated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sunday.wale.adeniran\/videos\/1167775893935128\/?app=fbl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">audio deepfake, released just hours<\/a> before voting, purporting to capture former Vice President Atiku Abubakar discussing plans to rig the election. This audio, which quickly went viral, played directly into existing public cynicism about electoral integrity, strengthening &#8220;confirmation bias&#8221; among those who already believed the elections would be rigged. Skilled fact-checkers and digital forensic analysts later <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecable.ng\/fact-check-viral-audio-of-atiku-tambuwal-and-okowa-plotting-to-rig-election-is-doctored\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">confirmed<\/a> the audio was pieced together from previous recorded speeches, containing mismatched voices, unnatural pauses, and segments with altered backgrounds\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/daidac.thecjid.org\/how-to-spot-deepfake-audio-clips-blended-by-artificial-intelligence-tools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hallmarks<\/a> of a synthetic deepfake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the other hand, deepfakes were also used to enhance the image of Peter Obi, a candidate with a significant youth following. <a href=\"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/how-popular-twitter-facebook-accounts-shared-deepfakes-to-campaign-for-nigerian-presidential-candidate\/\">Videos surfaced depicting <\/a>Hollywood actors, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/pidgin\/articles\/crgd90yqjvqo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Elon Musk<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/factcheck.afp.com\/doc.afp.com.336Z8Q6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Donald Trump<\/a> endorsing Obi, leveraging the perceived weighty validation of Western celebrity endorsements within Nigeria&#8217;s political landscape. These deepfakes were primarily <a href=\"https:\/\/securityandtechnology.org\/blog\/qa-hannah-ajakaiye\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">attributed <\/a>to semi-unaffiliated groups, such as the Obidients\u2014Obi&#8217;s fervent social media followers\u2014driven by a zealous desire to outshine rivals on social media platforms. This <a href=\"https:\/\/africainfact.com\/the-challenges-of-ai-driven-political-disinformation-in-nigeria\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">democratisation<\/a> of deepfake creation, enabled by increasingly accessible AI tools, complicates accountability, making it harder to trace origins back to official campaigns.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond sophisticated deepfakes, the 2023 election also saw a <a href=\"http:\/\/sgojahds.com\/index.php\/SGOJAHDS\/article\/download\/525\/549\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">proliferation <\/a>of &#8220;shallow fakes&#8221;\u2014media manipulated through more conventional means. For instance, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/fact-check\/chatham-house-clip-of-nigerias-bola-tinubu-edited-with-comedy-film-quote-idUSL1N34J0L4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reuters-debunked<\/a> shallow fake video showed Bola Tinubu facing criticism for an incoherent response during a Chatham House event. Supporters of various candidates, including the &#8220;Atikulated&#8221; for Atiku Abubakar and &#8220;BATified&#8221; for Bola Tinubu, <a href=\"https:\/\/ng.boell.org\/en\/2022\/10\/26\/bots-and-biases-role-social-media-nigerias-elections\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">extensively employed <\/a>these manipulated photos and videos as part of their disinformation activities.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The use of AI in deepfakes and shallowfakes in Nigeria&#8217;s political history isn&#8217;t entirely new; pictures of former President Mohammed Buhari, falsely depicting him as dead and <a href=\"https:\/\/thebossnewspapers.com\/2021\/03\/12\/cloning-deepfake-technology-and-nigerias-democracy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">replaced by a lookalike<\/a>, circulated as early as 2018. Similarly, a deepfake video purporting to show former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole in a &#8220;raw sex clip&#8221; was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.academia.edu\/110059780\/KIU_interdisciplinary_Journal_of_Humanities_and_Social_Sciences_SOCIAL_MEDIA_AND_ARTIFICIAL_INTELLIGENCE_PERSPECTIVES_ON_DEEPFAKES_USE_IN_NIGERIAS_2023_GENERAL_ELECTIONS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">debunked <\/a>as an AI-manipulated product designed to damage his reputation.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The threat extends beyond Nigeria&#8217;s borders. AI-generated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/v\/1GiDb3Yc5a\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">deepfakes of Donald Trump<\/a> have been widely disseminated on platforms like TikTok and X, specifically designed to mislead Nigerians. One <a href=\"https:\/\/www.voanews.com\/a\/ai-generated-deepfakes-of-trump-aimed-at-misleading-kenyans-nigerians\/7923816.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">viral deepfake,<\/a> viewed 871,000 times on X, depicted Trump allegedly announcing changes to U.S.-Nigeria immigration policy. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/fact-check\/no-evidence-trump-called-nigerian-separatists-release-audio-synthetic-experts-2024-12-06\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Another <\/a>featured a phoney Trump calling for the release of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu, threatening to withdraw U.S. aid if Kanu was not released. These transnational deepfakes highlight a growing phenomenon in which foreign actors are leveraging synthetic media to shape public discourse and potentially influence geopolitical relations or internal stability within Nigeria.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Indeed, foreign entities such as Cambridge Analytica and Team Jorge were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2018\/mar\/20\/cambridge-analytica-nigeria-election-fake-news\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">implicated <\/a>in the 2015 Nigerian presidential campaigns, aiming to discredit opposition candidates and disrupt their communication. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.atlanticcouncil.org\/blogs\/africasource\/how-russia-china-and-iran-are-shaping-africa-in-the-information-age\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Russia, too, employs a &#8220;franchising strategy&#8221;<\/a> in Africa, funnelling guidelines and payments to residents and influencers to create manipulated content across various platforms, making pro-Russia narratives appear genuine and evade moderation. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.atlanticcouncil.org\/blogs\/africasource\/how-russia-china-and-iran-are-shaping-africa-in-the-information-age\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Iran has also conducted targeted disinformation campaigns<\/a> in Nigeria using proxy social media accounts.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXfmN5Z12bUZ3m-yRpmHkr3GGhL0TEfqOKGjEJQy08gcseXQT-PJ8p7PYvu0QGARDsxV-kpndnuj-kfAb5VlVLl4LnJ9_eegaRHZNsS8BnM1A6cfn9uro_sbxbj-5LzSq8ubn5XnwQ?key=F6rlpJeyobk0xOfy1SBhTQ\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Key Deepfake Incidents in Nigerian Politics (2023 Election and Beyond). (Table derived based on analysis in this report, infographic modelling used for representation purposes.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Deepfakes &#8211; A transnational trend<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pro-Russian Politician, Robert Fico\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2023\/10\/01\/world\/slovakia-election-pro-russia-robert-fico-win-intl-hnk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">victory<\/a> in the 2023 Slovak parliamentary elections, thrust this small Central European country into the global spotlight. Fico\u2019s campaign pledges to oppose sanctions on Russia and end military support for Ukraine were noteworthy enough, but the <a href=\"https:\/\/misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu\/article\/beyond-the-deepfake-hype-ai-democracy-and-the-slovak-case\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">potential influence<\/a> of a deepfake truly captured global attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just two days before the election, a fake <a href=\"https:\/\/ipi.media\/slovakia-deepfake-audio-of-dennik-n-journalist-offers-worrying-example-of-ai-abuse\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">audio recording emerged<\/a>, allegedly featuring pro-European candidate Michal \u0160ime\u010dka\u2014Fico\u2019s main rival\u2014conspiring with a well-known journalist to commit electoral fraud. Although both parties swiftly dismissed the clip as fabricated, it spread rapidly online, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/videos\/business\/2024\/01\/31\/deepfake-ai-warnings-donie-osullivan-pkg-vpx.cnn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gaining traction<\/a> due to its release during Slovakia\u2019s legally mandated electoral <a href=\"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2024\/06\/04\/quiet-or-not-before-the-storm-how-european-countries-election-silence-contrast\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201csilence period.\u201d<\/a> This period, a holdover from the traditional media era, is a 48-hour total media blackout restricting election-related reporting right before voting. Despite leading in the polls, \u0160ime\u010dka\u2019s unexpected defeat sparked speculation that the election may have been<a href=\"https:\/\/misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu\/article\/beyond-the-deepfake-hype-ai-democracy-and-the-slovak-case\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> \u201cthe first swung by deepfakes.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The incident, now dubbed \u201cthe Slovak case,\u201d is widely regarded as a turning point\u2014a harbinger of a new era in disinformation, and a \u201ctest case\u201d for assessing the vulnerability of democratic systems to AI-powered manipulation. As Casey Newton of Platformer <a href=\"https:\/\/misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu\/article\/beyond-the-deepfake-hype-ai-democracy-and-the-slovak-case\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">noted<\/a>, \u201cwhat happened in Slovakia will likely soon occur in many more countries around the world.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/c2techs.net\/2020\/02\/18\/the-deepfake-genie-is-out-of-the-bottle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Others<\/a> issued starker warnings: \u201cthe deepfake genie is out of the bottle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following the Slovak incident, in Argentina\u2019s 2023 elections, leading presidential candidates <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilsoncenter.org\/blog-post\/ai-poses-risks-both-authoritarian-and-democratic-politics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reportedly used deepfakes<\/a>, including in election posters and materials ridiculing opponents. While not necessarily &#8220;swinging&#8221; the election, it demonstrates the widespread adoption of the technology in campaigns. In Bangladesh\u2019s January 2024 elections, a deepfake <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/political-science\/articles\/10.3389\/fpos.2024.1451601\/full\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">video<\/a> circulated just before the polls, allegedly showing a candidate announcing her withdrawal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other incidents include India\u2019s 2024 general election, where a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/economy\/2024\/2\/12\/how-ai-is-used-to-resurrect-dead-indian-politicians-as-elections-loom\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">deepfake of popular deceased politicians<\/a> was used to appeal to voters, and <a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2024\/02\/12\/asia\/suharto-deepfake-ai-scam-indonesia-election-hnk-intl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the same resurrection of the dead <\/a>technique in Indonesia in the same year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the full impact of deepfakes on the United States general election is still being assessed, there have been several instances of deepfakes circulating, including an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.king5.com\/article\/news\/verify\/ai\/donald-trump-jeffrey-epstein-image-ai-generated\/536-4847791b-4cc2-4944-abcc-8f969f430ae6#:~:text=THE%20ANSWER,It%20was%20generated%20using%20AI.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AI-generated image<\/a> falsely depicting Trump with a convicted sex worker.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the February 2025 Germany election, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party <a href=\"https:\/\/www.isdglobal.org\/isd-publications\/generative-ai-and-the-german-far-right-narratives-tactics-and-digital-strategies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">used AI-generated<\/a> imagery, including a video presenting an &#8220;idyllic&#8221; future without immigration, to advance their anti-immigrant agenda and influence voters, while neigbouring&nbsp; Ghana&#8217;s 2024 general elections <a href=\"https:\/\/restofworld.org\/2024\/ghana-election-ai-bots-x-twitter\/?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">saw notable use<\/a> of AI-driven disinformation tactics, including deepfakes, bot networks, and manipulated media to spin narratives.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Threat to Nigeria\u2019s Democratic Process<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rise of synthetic media, particularly deepfakes, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/388418961_Public_Perception_of_Political_Disinformation_and_Trust_in_Mainstream_Media_during_Electoral_Campaigns_in_Nigeria_The_International_Journal_of_African_Language_and_Media_Studies_IJALMS_42_162\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">poses<\/a> an immediate and severe threat to the credibility of elections and public trust in their results. Digital disinformation directly threatens the integrity of Nigeria&#8217;s democratic processes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">False information is intentionally used to achieve political objectives, such as discrediting opponents or swaying voter behaviour. During elections, disinformation campaigns frequently exploit the country&#8217;s ethnic and religious divisions, intensifying tensions. Foreign influence operations also aim to manipulate public perceptions, influence electoral outcomes, and shape government policy, often linked to broader geopolitical agendas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/388832843_The_Impact_of_Fake_News_and_Cloned_Online_Pages_on_Media_Credibility_Public_Trust_and_Societal_Cohesion_in_Nigeria_Solutions_and_Practical_and_Theoretical_Implications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Studies indicate<\/a> that a substantial portion of the Nigerian population encounters and acts upon misleading information; approximately 75% of Nigerians report encountering such content online, and a concerning 68% admit to believing and acting on fake news. This widespread acceptance of false narratives highlights a critical gap in the populace&#8217;s media literacy and verification skills.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The spread of fake news has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.undp.org\/publications\/fake-news-conflict-and-security\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">linked <\/a>to instigating inter-ethnic conflicts, instilling fear and panic, and ruining the reputations of public figures and institutions. This can incite violence and culminate in civil unrest, posing a massive threat to national security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite the growing prevalence of deepfakes, a significant portion of the Nigerian population remains <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/388418961_Public_Perception_of_Political_Disinformation_and_Trust_in_Mainstream_Media_during_Electoral_Campaigns_in_Nigeria_The_International_Journal_of_African_Language_and_Media_Studies_IJALMS_42_162\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">vulnerable<\/a> due to low digital literacy. Many lack the skills to differentiate between factual and fabricated digital content. While a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/388418961_Public_Perception_of_Political_Disinformation_and_Trust_in_Mainstream_Media_during_Electoral_Campaigns_in_Nigeria_The_International_Journal_of_African_Language_and_Media_Studies_IJALMS_42_162\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">study<\/a> in Benin City found that most residents were knowledgeable about deepfake technology and viewed it negatively, it also confirmed its role in the faster spread of misinformation. This highlights a critical vulnerability: even with some awareness, persistent low digital literacy, particularly in rural areas, means a large segment of the population remains susceptible to manipulation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The road ahead: Expert perspectives<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proliferation of sophisticated disinformation tactics presents significant challenges for journalists and fact-checkers. Verifying multimedia content in real-time is increasingly challenging <a href=\"https:\/\/punchng.com\/deepfakes-looming-crisis-for-2027-election\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">without<\/a> powerful AI detection technologies. A hostile environment for media professionals exacerbates this burden. Nigeria is <a href=\"https:\/\/businessday.ng\/news\/article\/nigeria-ranks-112th-on-2024-world-press-freedom-index\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ranked <\/a>112th out of 180 countries in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, reflecting an alarming increase in attacks on journalists. Such threats severely impede the ability of journalists and fact-checkers to combat disinformation effectively.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A broader systemic <a href=\"https:\/\/punchng.com\/deepfakes-looming-crisis-for-2027-election\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">challenge<\/a> is the insufficient access of tech companies to online data, which hinders their ability to accurately measure and address the risks posed by disinformation campaigns in African countries.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, as AI-generated deepfakes, shallow fakes, and the subsequent spread of disinformation continue to proliferate in elections worldwide, the Institute for Security and Technology (<a href=\"https:\/\/securityandtechnology.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IST<\/a>) has <a href=\"https:\/\/securityandtechnology.org\/blog\/ist-launches-generative-identity-initiative-with-support-of-omidyar-network\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">launched the Generative Identity Initiative (GII)<\/a> to better understand how generative artificial intelligence affects social trust and institutional decision-making.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">GII will build off the work of IST\u2019s Digital Cognition and Democracy Initiative (DCDI), which in 2022 published its foundational report, <a href=\"https:\/\/securityandtechnology.org\/virtual-library\/reports\/rewired-how-digital-technologies-shape-cognition-and-democracy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rewired: How Digital Technologies Shape Cognition and Democracy.<\/a> With a powerful coalition of more than 50 subject matter experts, DCDI found that the impacts of digitally influenced cognition could undermine the very core elements of a democratic society, specifically due to its effect on the independent, critically thinking minds of individuals. With advancing generative artificial intelligence, however, this has proven no longer to be a hypothetical.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, journalist Hannah Ajakaiye, founder of FactsMatterNg, in a March 2024 interview with the IST, believes the problem lies not only in the advances but also in the lack of updated laws to address synthetic content and AI-generated manipulations, particularly about elections.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She believes this is paramount because of \u201chow generative AI has weaponised misinformation and made it far more believable, harder to detect, and scalable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While calling for algorithmic transparency by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.collinsdictionary.com\/dictionary\/english\/big-tech#:~:text=Big%20Tech%20is%20used%20to,campuses%20are%20like%20mini%20resorts.&amp;text=What%20is%20this%20an%20image,correct%20answer%20into%20the%20box.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Big Tech<\/a>, Hannah believes that journalism <em>must also evolve to match the sophistication of AI-driven deceptions.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cWe can\u2019t fact-check our way out of this problem alone\u2014we need systems, structures, and speed\u2019 <\/em>she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Samad Uthman, a digital investigations journalist with AFP, also believes Big Tech must get involved. \u201cThey must detect, label, and limit the reach of deepfakes, especially during elections,&#8221; he explained, emphasising that transparency with researchers and fact-checkers is also paramount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Samad also stressed that journalists and newsrooms must work hard in unravelling the ever-evolving tactics of deepfake paddling.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTo curb deepfakes, journalism bodies too need to work hard in driving public education to orient people on how best not to fall prey to synthetic lies,\u201d he maintained, adding that more innovative detection tools and rapid public awareness remain key.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On his part, Isaac Nwokeocha, a tech and digital culture journalist, believes that the 2027 elections will be a defining moment for Nigeria, not just politically, but also technologically.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf we fail to recognise and prepare for the weaponisation of artificial intelligence in the information space, we risk sleepwalking into a national crisis,\u201d Isaac warned.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Nigeria stands at the forefront of the synthetic media battle, with its upcoming 2027 general elections just two years away, the acclaimed African giant is at a critical juncture that demands proactive and coordinated efforts across all sectors. This involves strengthening legal and policy frameworks, enhancing digital literacy, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and promoting responsible platform governance, which are imperative to ensure that Nigeria&#8217;s democratic future is built on truth and transparency.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Days after gunmen slaughtered over 100 villagers in Benue State, Enoche was scrolling through her Facebook posts at a roadside barbers\u2019 shop in Abuja while her husband was having a haircut, when suddenly her timeline popped with a chilling video which \u201cexposed\u201d Nigerian soldiers in full military gear guarding cows in \u201cVIP format.\u201d&nbsp; The footage, styled like a news broadcast, showed herds of cattle lounging on a stretch of plush green grass in Yelwata, her hometown, where the carnage occurred. A stern-voiced anchor clenched a microphone and claimed, &#8220;The army prioritises cows over human lives.&#8221; Enoche\u2019s scrolling thumb froze mid-air. She stared at the footage with her heart sinking, raging with fire and fury simultaneously. It looked like a scene from a Nollywood thriller, but it appeared provocatively true.&nbsp; By the time Enoche shared the content with an acquaintance who fact-checked such claims for verification, the video had gone far, moving from WhatsApp to Telegram with the speed of outrage. In the end, it was a confirmed AI-generated deepfake.&nbsp; In a country already grappling with farmer-herder tensions, displaced communities, and a fragile security architecture, that video was the clearest warning yet that Nigeria\u2019s 2027 elections are walking straight into a storm of synthetic deception. As Nigeria approaches its 2027 general elections, the proliferation of deepfake technology on social media platforms like X, TikTok, and Facebook has begun seeding the early stages of AI-driven disinformation campaigns targeting the country\u2019s upcoming polls. This report uncovers accounts actively experimenting with deepfake political content. This seriously threatens the integrity of elections and potentially undermines the foundation of democratic trust.&nbsp; The accounts and activities include local partisan operatives experimenting with generative AI tools to sway public opinion, fake celebrity validation, trails of foreign influence and the covert role of social media \u2018influencers\u2019 in amplifying foreign-themed synthetic content.&nbsp; From meticulously crafted deepfakes to deceptively simple shallowfakes engineered to inflame tensions, assassinate character, manufacture viral controversy, and stoke the most divisive narratives imaginable, Nigerian social media timelines now surge with AI-generated fabrications.&nbsp; The 2023 presidential election served as a chilling preview, an &#8220;inundation&#8221; of AI-generated content that presented a new challenge for government and journalists. With 95% of online Nigerians using WhatsApp, 64% relying on social media for their political news, and social media political campaigns playing a significant role in persuading voters in the 2023 general elections, the fertile ground for disinformation is well established and unmistakable. This widespread digital illiteracy means that a substantial portion of the population struggles to differentiate between genuine and fabricated content, leaving them highly susceptible to deception. From slapstick posts of Nigeria\u2019s President Bola Tinubu being whisked by \u2018Interpol\u2019 at Eagle Square to the President harassing suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalaye Fubara and embracing FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, or former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Tinubu in a fistfight, and former ruling party (APC) Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, being hounded, what is at stake is not just about electoral outcomes but palpable mayhem. A fabricated video, for instance, depicting a candidate inciting violence, could in Nigeria&#8217;s politically unstable environment quickly lead to bloodshed.&nbsp; Waves of AI-driven propaganda flood X A January 2025 report by Deloitte reveals the alarming rise of synthetic media created using AI to deceive, as well as its implications for digital platforms, technology firms, and society at large. It highlights the explosive 550% growth in deepfake content between 2019 and 2023, driven by increasingly accessible Generative AI tools. The report reveals that 98% of deepfake content is related to adults, encompassing a range of issues, including fraud, disinformation, and reputational harm. It also flags the growing use of such content in political manipulation and misinformation campaigns. Just six months after that report, one of many such examples of deepfakes as an active weapon in the information battlefield targeting public figures and hijacking political discourse surfaced. On July 10, 2025, the X account Sarki (@Waspapping_) posted an image that claimed to show former Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi and Abacha having tea together \u201cway back\u201d while a follow-up video of the photo posted by X account THE TROJAN BEAST (@THETROJANBEAST) under the thread, added further manipulation to the original post. The content surfaced on the same day Mr. Obi denied meeting the late General Sani Abacha, the former Head of State, clarifying his relationship with the late ruler. As of July 18, 2025, the content had generated about 134,000 views, 1,500 likes, and 40 bookmarks. DUBAWA and PRNigeria&#8217;s fact check revealed the content to be an AI-generated narrative that employed a delegitimisation tactic, leveraging historical grievances and falsely associating Obi with a figure widely associated with democratic truncation.&nbsp; Despite being effectively debunked, the flames of toxic engagement had already been stoked. Obi\u2019s supporters alleged a coordinated campaign by rival political factions to smear their candidate. Reacting, CKing (@Obidient_Police) accused Atiku\u2019s followers of being behind the narrative, stating, \u201cThey have doctored the picture from someone else we know into Peter Obi\u2026 Atiku online thugs.\u201d&nbsp; The video also resonated with people who believed it was genuine. A K I N O M O A K I N (@MichealAkinsuyi) said, \u201cand he (Obi) said he never met Abacha in his lifetime. Peter Obi and Lie\u2026)\u201d.&nbsp; Godsman Okenwa (@OkenwaGodsman), on the other hand, towed the ethnic line. \u201cYaribaboon&#8217;s accounts are easy to identify. It surprises me how an entire tribe would be suffering from an inferiority complex,\u201d he replied.&nbsp; \u200eFurther investigation revealed that this is not the first instance of such image manipulation aimed at tarnishing political figures. A similar doctored image allegedly showing President Bola Tinubu with Abacha having tea in the same setting also made rounds on social media. In that case, too, no credible source validated the photograph&#8217;s authenticity. The pattern suggests a deliberate strategy to tarnish reputations by linking current figures to Nigeria\u2019s authoritarian past, a tactic that could intensify as the 2027 election nears.&nbsp; Meanwhile, the two major actors in this narrative appear to be active political influencers pushing a given narrative. While Sarki (@Waspapping_), whose timeline<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23777,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"hannibal_claim_source":"","hannibal_source_label":"","hannibal_card_color":"blue","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_bluesky_share_type":"","_mastodon_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[1571,3812,3815,16],"tags":[],"verdict":[],"ppma_author":[2256],"class_list":["post-23776","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fact-check","category-headline","category-homepage","category-politics"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8R6dE-6bu","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":2256,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"mohammed-dahiru-lawal","display_name":"Mohammed Dahiru Lawal","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1ebd1dfc219b4bac379c5de7edf372d1ba3299fddb242bf843159b36efc7bb01?s=96&r=g","author_category":"","user_url":"","last_name":"","first_name":"","job_title":"","description":""}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Election-image.jpg?fit=1442%2C966&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23776","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23776"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23776\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23778,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23776\/revisions\/23778"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23776"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23776"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23776"},{"taxonomy":"verdict","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/verdict?post=23776"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=23776"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}