Nigeria’s 2027 elections could face a new information threat in which fabricated results, synthetic audio and deepfake videos circulate faster than journalists and fact-checkers can establish what actually happened, media stakeholders have warned.
The concern is that voters could encounter convincing but entirely manufactured election information at a time when official results are still being collated, creating confusion and potentially influencing public reactions before verified figures emerge.
Journalists and media experts raised the alarm at the 8th Bagauda Kaltho Media Lecture Series organised by the Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) to commemorate the posthumous birthday of investigative journalist Bagauda Kaltho.
The event, according to the communique issued by the organisers , focused on the growing challenge of election misinformation and the implications of artificial intelligence for journalism and democratic participation.
Participants warned that AI tools were making it increasingly easy to produce realistic-looking videos, manipulated recordings and fabricated election results capable of misleading audiences who may have little opportunity or inclination to verify the material before sharing it.
They noted that the problem is compounded by the speed of social media, where false claims can reach large audiences before professional newsrooms and fact-checkers have completed verification.
The stakeholders therefore urged news organisations to make digital verification a central part of election reporting, alongside stronger investment in fact-checking, investigative journalism and newsroom training in artificial intelligence.
Themed “Courageous Journalism, Press Freedom and the Challenge of Election Misinformation Ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections,” the lecture featured a keynote address by Premium Times Publisher and Chief Executive Officer, Dapo Olorunyomi.
Beyond technology, participants identified economic pressures confronting the media as another vulnerability, citing weakened business models, poor remuneration and institutional challenges that could undermine the capacity of newsrooms to maintain rigorous election coverage.
They also raised concerns over legal and institutional pressures on journalists, including the application of the Cybercrimes Act and the continued existence of laws they described as outdated and capable of restricting press freedom.
The stakeholders called for a broader response involving media organisations, technology companies, government agencies, civil society groups, educators and citizens, while urging greater media literacy in schools and communities so Nigerians can question and verify suspicious information before sharing it.
The lecture further stressed that protecting the integrity of election information cannot rest with journalists alone, particularly as AI continues to make fabricated content faster, cheaper and increasingly convincing to ordinary users.
