……..Growing use of deepfakes, misinformation and inflammatory campaigns raises fresh concerns over voter manipulation, electoral violence and national cohesion ahead of the 2027 polls
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has warned politicians and other participants in the electoral process against using artificial intelligence to manipulate campaigns, spread falsehoods and inflame ethnic, religious and regional tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Akpabio issued the warning while addressing senators on the resumption of legislative duties, where he spoke on the need for political actors to pursue their ambitions within the bounds of democratic values and avoid actions capable of threatening the peace and unity of the country.
The Senate President said no electoral victory was worth the life of any Nigerian, stressing that political competition must not be allowed to degenerate into violence or become a means of setting one section of the country against another. He said the 2027 elections should provide Nigerians with the opportunity to freely examine the competing programmes, policies and arguments of candidates before making their choices.
He urged politicians, political parties, candidates and their supporters to resist the temptation to exploit divisions within the country for electoral advantage, particularly along ethnic, religious and regional lines. According to him, political ambitions should be pursued in a manner that protects the lives and dignity of citizens and preserves the stability of the nation.
Akpabio’s warning comes amid the growing use of artificial intelligence in the production and distribution of digital content, with the technology increasingly capable of generating realistic audio, photographs and videos that can make individuals appear to have said or done things that never occurred.
He therefore called for responsible use of emerging technologies during political campaigns, warning that AI-generated materials could be deliberately deployed to mislead voters, damage the reputation of political opponents and create unnecessary tension among supporters.
The Senate President urged political actors to recognise the potential consequences of manipulated digital content, particularly in an election period when unverified information can spread rapidly across social media platforms and reach large numbers of citizens before its authenticity is established.
He said participants in the electoral process must reject misinformation, intimidation and inflammatory rhetoric, insisting that political campaigns should focus on the issues affecting Nigerians and the programmes candidates intend to implement if elected.
Akpabio also stressed that political competition should not become a justification for violence, saying citizens must be able to attend political gatherings, express their views and cast their votes without fear of intimidation or coercion.
He appealed to politicians to place the broader interest of Nigeria above personal and partisan ambitions, warning against actions capable of deepening existing divisions or turning political disagreements into conflicts between communities.
According to him, the responsibility for a peaceful electoral process does not rest solely with security agencies or electoral authorities, but also with political parties, candidates, their supporters, the media, civil society organisations and ordinary citizens who participate in the democratic process.
The Senate President also raised broader national concerns, including insecurity, flooding and the rising cost of living, stressing that the country requires collective efforts and responsible leadership to address challenges affecting the wellbeing of citizens.
He called for greater cooperation among Nigerians in confronting the country’s difficulties, arguing that political differences should not prevent citizens and leaders from working together on issues that affect the nation as a whole.
Akpabio further urged Nigerians to remain committed to national unity as the country approaches its 66th Independence anniversary, saying the challenges confronting the country require cooperation, tolerance and a shared commitment to peaceful coexistence.
His comments come as preparations and political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections are expected to intensify, with political parties and prospective candidates expected to increase their engagements with voters and begin more extensive campaigns.
The Senate President urged stakeholders in the emerging electoral contest to ensure that political mobilisation does not become a platform for spreading hatred or manipulating citizens, but instead provides voters with sufficient information to make informed choices.
He maintained that the credibility of the democratic process depends not only on the conduct of elections on polling day but also on the quality of political campaigns and the willingness of participants to respect the rights and choices of other citizens.
Akpabio’s appeal ultimately centred on the need to protect lives, preserve national cohesion and ensure that technological advancement does not become a tool for undermining the electoral process as Nigeria moves towards the 2027 polls.
