The Presidency has issued a warning to Nigerians regarding the increasing circulation of fake media content and digitally manipulated materials designed to mislead the public, inflame religious sentiments, and discredit the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Public Notice on Disinformation
In a public notice posted on the Presidency's verified X handle, @NGRPresident, the government accused desperate political actors of deploying deepfake technology and coordinated disinformation campaigns ahead of the 2027 election season. The statement, authored by the Office of Digital Engagement and Strategy, said recent incidents involving manipulated videos and fake audio clips were part of a deliberate strategy to weaponize religion and provoke division among Nigerians.
“We are aware of yet another deliberate attempt to weaponise religion for politics across various online platforms,” the statement read.
Manipulated Content Exposed
According to the notice, a manipulated video overlaid with fake audio and false attributions had earlier been circulated online to portray President Tinubu negatively through the identity of a social media influencer. Another deepfake video falsely linked to a religious leader had also emerged, described as a calculated attempt to incite Muslims against the President.
“The pattern is becoming increasingly obvious,” the Presidency stated. It warned that as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, some actors would continue to manufacture outrage, distort religious issues, manipulate context, and spread falsehoods through social media platforms and WhatsApp groups.
President Tinubu’s Commitment to Unity
The Presidency reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to religious freedom, peaceful coexistence, and national unity, stressing that the President had always maintained a clear position on interfaith harmony. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has never hidden who he is. He is a Muslim. He is married to a Christian. He leads a multi-religious nation built on constitutional freedom of worship, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence,” it stated.
The notice recalled that in his 2026 Lent and Ramadan message, the President emphasized that Christianity and Islam shared common values rooted in compassion, sacrifice, justice, peace, and love for humanity.
Call for Vigilance
The Presidency urged Nigerians to critically evaluate provocative online content before sharing it, warning against attempts to set citizens of different faiths against one another. The government called on the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious materials to the authorities.
