Deepfake Disinformation Threatens National Unity

In a move aimed at preserving democratic stability, the Nigerian Presidency has issued a stern warning about the increasing use of deepfake videos that target religious communities. The statement, shared via the State House’s official X handle, identifies coordinated campaigns that weave manipulated footage and fake audio into narratives that vilify President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and stoke sectarian conflict.

Officials noted that recent examples include a video employing an influencer’s voice to cast the President in a negative light, followed by another deepfake depicting a religious leader, allegedly intended to provoke Muslims against Tinubu. The pattern, the Presidency says, is “becoming increasingly obvious” as the election season nears.

At the core of the warning is a reaffirmation of Tinubu’s long‑standing stance on religious tolerance. The President is a Muslim who is married to a Christian and has repeatedly stressed that Nigeria is “a multi‑religious nation built on constitutional freedom of worship, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence.” The statement also referenced the President’s 2026 Lent and Ramadan messages, where he highlighted shared values such as compassion, justice, and love for humanity between Christian and Muslim communities.

In addition to denouncing the disinformation, the Presidency called on citizens to pause before sharing inflammatory content and to verify sources. It warned that actors responsible for creating or circulating such content could be investigated under the country’s cybercrime and public safety laws, emphasizing that the goal of the disinformation campaigns is to exploit emotions and divide Nigerians for political gain.

Ultimately, the warning underscores a broader global challenge: the weaponization of digital media to manipulate public opinion and erode social cohesion. By calling for vigilance, verification, and a recommitment to unity, the Nigerian Presidency seeks to protect its electorate from the corrosive effects of deepfake propaganda.