2027: AI Deepfakes, Election Misinformation Threaten Nigeria’s Democracy — AMDF Lecture
By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna
The Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) has warned that the growing use of artificial intelligence to create fake election results, deepfake videos and manipulated audio could pose a serious challenge to credible journalism and Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The warning formed part of the resolutions of the 8th Bagauda Kaltho Media Lecture held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, in memory of the late investigative journalist and in reflection on the state of press freedom and journalism in Nigeria.
The lecture, themed “Courageous Journalism, Press Freedom and the Challenge of Election Misinformation Ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections,” featured a keynote address by Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of Premium Times.
Participants observed that social media platforms had made it possible for false and manipulated information to travel faster and reach wider audiences than professional journalists and fact-checkers could respond.
They warned that the emergence of AI-generated content was making the information environment even more difficult, with fabricated election results, synthetic audio, manipulated videos and other deceptive materials capable of misleading voters.
The lecture also raised concerns over the economic crisis confronting media organisations, noting that disruption of traditional media business models had contributed to financial pressures, poor remuneration for journalists and weakened media institutions.
It further noted that journalists continued to face legal and institutional challenges, including concerns surrounding the application of the Cybercrimes Act and the continued existence of outdated laws restricting press freedom.
The participants called on journalists and media organisations to strengthen professional and ethical standards, particularly when handling digital and AI-generated content.
They urged newsrooms to invest in continuous training in fact-checking, digital verification, artificial intelligence and investigative journalism, while developing stronger systems for detecting and responding to misinformation before and during elections.
The lecture also called for greater collaboration among media organisations, journalists’ unions, professional guilds and civil society organisations to confront the growing misinformation threat.
Government and public institutions were urged to support credible fact-checking and verification mechanisms, improve engagement between security agencies and the media, and review laws considered restrictive to legitimate journalism.
The participants also challenged technology companies and digital platforms to work with journalists, civil society organisations and public institutions to curb the viral spread of demonstrably false and harmful content.
Beyond the media, the lecture stressed the need for stronger media literacy among citizens, urging Nigerians to pause, question and verify information before sharing it, particularly during election periods.
It recommended expanding media-literacy initiatives through communities, schools, religious organisations and other social institutions.
The lecture also recognised the importance of preparing young journalists for the rapidly changing media environment, citing the CJID Campus Journalism Programme as an example of journalism capacity-building.
The event concluded with a call for a multi-stakeholder effort involving journalists, media organisations, government, technology companies, civil society, educators and citizens to protect Nigeria’s information environment ahead of the 2027 elections.
Participants said the legacy of Bagauda Kaltho remains a reminder of the risks journalists have historically faced in the pursuit of truth, accountability and democratic values.
