Presidency Warns Against Deepfake Videos, Says Religion Being Weaponised for Political Gain

The Presidency of Nigeria has raised concerns over what it described as a growing wave of deepfake videos and manipulated online content allegedly aimed at weaponising religion for political purposes ahead of the election season.

The warning was issued Thursday by the Office of Digital Engagement and Strategy through its official X handle, where it accused unnamed actors of coordinating misinformation campaigns targeting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to the statement, recent content circulating across social media platforms and messaging applications includes fabricated videos and false audio overlays falsely linked to religious leaders in an attempt to incite Muslims against the President.

The Presidency said a similar incident had occurred previously involving a manipulated video with fake audio and false attribution intended to damage Tinubu’s image through the use of an influencer’s identity.

It warned that the spread of such content reflected a deliberate strategy by “desperate actors” seeking to distort facts, manufacture outrage, and inflame religious divisions as political activities intensify ahead of 2027.

“As the political season approaches, desperate actors will continue to manufacture outrage, distort faith, manipulate context, spread falsehoods, and push dangerous emotional bait across social media platforms and WhatsApp groups in an attempt to divide Nigerians for political gain,” the statement noted.

The Presidency also reaffirmed Tinubu’s position on religious tolerance, pointing out that the President is a Muslim married to a Christian and governs a multi-religious country founded on constitutional freedom of worship and peaceful coexistence.

It referenced his 2026 Easter and Ramadan messages, where he emphasized shared values between Christianity and Islam, including compassion, sacrifice, justice, and love for humanity.

The government urged Nigerians to exercise caution before sharing inflammatory online materials, advising citizens to question the motives behind divisive narratives and verify information before reposting it.

Describing the trend as “coordinated manipulation at scale,” the Presidency warned that individuals or groups found spreading false or malicious content could face investigation and prosecution under Nigeria’s cybercrime and public order laws.