ABUJA, NIGERIA — Media experts have urged Nigerian journalists to strengthen digital verification practices, investigate suspicious online publications and establish clear editorial guidelines on artificial intelligence as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
The experts warned that the growing sophistication of AI-generated videos, fabricated photographs, cloned voices and manipulated audio recordings could make it increasingly difficult for voters to distinguish authentic information from deliberately manufactured content.
They made the recommendations on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, during a webinar organised by the PUNCH Media Foundation, themed “AI, Misinformation and Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Safeguarding the Truth, Protecting the Vote.”
Founder of FactsMatterNG, Hannah Ajakaiye, identified the timing, origin and technical quality of suspicious content as important factors journalists should examine before publishing election-related information.
She cautioned reporters against accepting materials circulated through WhatsApp and other social media platforms without establishing their original sources.
According to her, the sudden appearance of a damaging audio recording, video or manipulated photograph shortly before an election should immediately raise questions about its authenticity, particularly when the material appears designed to influence public opinion.
Ajakaiye stressed that journalists must trace suspicious content to its primary source instead of relying on repeated online circulation as evidence of authenticity.
She also advised reporters to contact relevant institutions directly to confirm claims before publishing them. For election-related information, she identified the Independent National Electoral Commission as a key institution journalists should approach when verifying announcements, statements and other electoral developments.
She explained that newsrooms should be prepared to delay publication when necessary rather than risk spreading false information in the rush to break a story.
The fact-checking expert further identified emotionally charged messages and artificial urgency as warning signs of possible misinformation.
She urged journalists and members of the public to be cautious about messages containing instructions such as “Share this right now” or “Share before it gets deleted”, noting that such language could be deliberately used to encourage people to circulate unverified materials.
On identifying manipulated audio, Ajakaiye advised listeners to pay attention to unnatural pauses, muffled tones, inconsistent sound quality and abrupt changes that could suggest different recordings had been combined.
She also recommended checking whether credible media organisations or official institutions had already investigated or debunked the material before treating it as factual.
Meanwhile, Director of Projects at the Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation, Mayowa Tijani, warned that Nigeria could experience more sophisticated digital manipulation during the 2027 elections than in previous electoral cycles.
He observed that artificial intelligence had become more widely adopted since the 2023 general elections, increasing the potential for its misuse in political communication and news production.
Tijani called on media organisations to develop and publicly disclose clear policies explaining how they use AI in their newsrooms.
He said such policies should identify the tasks for which artificial intelligence is permitted, the safeguards governing its use and the responsibilities of journalists and editors in reviewing AI-assisted material.
He also cautioned against presenting AI-generated images as genuine photographs without clearly identifying them as illustrations, explaining that audiences could mistake synthetic images for authentic evidence when they circulate outside their original context.
Tijani acknowledged that AI could assist journalists with writing, transcription and other newsroom activities but insisted that editorial judgement and final publication decisions must remain under human control.
He argued that transparency about the use of artificial intelligence would help preserve public confidence in journalism and prevent news organisations from becoming sources of misinformation themselves.
The experts’ recommendations also highlighted the importance of public education. Ajakaiye advocated producing media literacy materials in Nigerian languages so that people across different communities could understand how manipulated content spreads and how to verify information.
She also encouraged partnerships with social media influencers and content creators, arguing that they could help distribute accurate information and direct audiences towards reliable sources.
The discussions come amid growing concerns among electoral stakeholders that deepfakes and fabricated political statements could be used to damage candidates’ reputations, mislead voters, create panic and undermine confidence in election institutions.
The experts maintained that tackling the threat would require cooperation among journalists, security agencies, INEC, technology companies, civil society organisations and the wider public.
As preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum, their central message is that speed must not take precedence over accuracy. Strong verification procedures, transparent newsroom policies and accessible public education will be essential to protecting the credibility of election-related information.
