By David Lawani, Abuja
Vice-President Kashim Shettima has raised concerns over the growing ability of artificial intelligence to manufacture convincing falsehoods, warning that the technology could undermine public trust in the media, elections and democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Shettima, who spoke in a goodwill message to the 2026 All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Enugu on Thursday, said the increasing sophistication of AI had made the media’s role as a gatekeeper between information and manipulation more critical.
He said technology could now manufacture convincing falsehoods at unprecedented speed, making professional journalism more important in protecting citizens from deceptive information.
“Your sub-theme, ‘When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Disinformation Before, During and After Election,’ speaks directly to one of the defining challenges of our time,” Shettima said.
“When technology can manufacture convincing falsehoods at unprecedented speed, professional journalism becomes more important, not less. The editor remains a crucial gatekeeper between information and manipulation.”
The Vice-President, who said he had hoped to attend the conference but was prevented by other pressing responsibilities of state, stressed that the credibility of elections depended not only on the ballot but also on citizens having access to reliable information.
He said the media had earned its place as the fourth estate by interrogating power, informing citizens, shaping public debate and preserving the nation’s institutional memory.
According to him, the ballot can only give citizens a meaningful voice when they have credible information on which to base their choices.
Shettima also warned that the danger posed by AI went beyond citizens believing false information.
“The danger is not simply that people may believe a lie. The greater danger is that citizens may eventually stop believing anything,” he said.
“When the public can no longer distinguish between what is true and what is fabricated, trust in the media, elections and public institutions begins to suffer.”
The Vice-President urged journalists to report government performance fairly, saying disagreement between the media and government was normal in a democracy but should be based on facts, responsibility and good faith.
He also cited economic indicators and infrastructure investments of the Tinubu administration, while acknowledging that the ultimate test of reforms was their impact on the cost of living and purchasing power of Nigerians.
The conference, organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors, brought together editors, media executives, election officials and other stakeholders to examine the threats posed by AI-generated disinformation to the 2027 elections.
*INEC warns of deepfakes, fake election results
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, warned that generative AI, voice cloning, deepfake videos and automated bot networks had moved election misinformation into a more dangerous phase.
Represented by the Enugu Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, Amupitan said malicious actors could now manufacture fake voices of election officials, fabricated videos and counterfeit result sheets and distribute them rapidly across digital platforms.
“We have moved far beyond simple political bias, hyperbole, or unverified rumours into an era of synthetically manufactured reality,” he said.
According to him, “Generative artificial intelligence, voice cloning, deepfake video synthesis, and automated bot networks have democratised mass deception.”
He warned that even a well-conducted election could face a crisis of credibility if fabricated content was strategically amplified online.
“For an election management body, administrative success on the ground can be instantly erased on a smartphone screen by a well-timed, algorithmically boosted deepfake,” he said.
Amupitan disclosed that INEC had created a dedicated AI Division and introduced automated AI auditing into its Results Management System, backed by human oversight and a five-pillar AI Governance Framework.
He also challenged newsrooms to strengthen fact-checking systems and use forensic tools to authenticate suspicious digital content.
The INEC chairman cautioned journalists against announcing election results from unofficial sources, stressing that statutory authority to declare election results remained with the Commission.
“Let’s resist premature result declarations,” he said, warning that amplification of privately collated figures could create conflicting narratives and undermine public confidence.
He added, “The pressure on modern newsrooms to be first is immense. But in national elections, it is vastly more important to be right than to be first.”
*Onaiyekan demands wider electoral reforms
Also speaking at the conference, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, called for broader reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system, arguing that the credibility of elections required more than combating AI-generated misinformation.
Onaiyekan identified issues including the appointment process for INEC leadership, election tribunals, citizens’ ability to challenge results, independent candidacy, presidential election thresholds and cross-carpeting by legislators.
He proposed independent appointment of INEC chairman and commissioners, a special election tribunal and allowing citizens or electors to challenge election results.
He also advocated that election petitions should be concluded before elected officials are sworn in, while calling for independent candidacy and a 50 per cent presidential threshold with a runoff where necessary.
Onaiyekan urged the media to remain autonomous, inform citizens and critically examine political claims rather than becoming an extension of political interests.
*Editors, stakeholders seek stronger media safeguards
President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba, said the media had a responsibility to ensure that Nigeria’s democracy survived by holding power accountable and providing space for diverse voices.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that our democracy survives. The media must hold power accountable and provide the space for diverse voices to be heard,” Anaba said.
The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, called for a joint rapid-response mechanism involving INEC and the media to counter misinformation and address voter apathy.
He warned that AI-generated content could make falsehoods appear authentic, including fabricated videos of political leaders and incidents of violence.
Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi, in his goodwill message, urged newsrooms to invest in verification, fact-checking, media literacy and responsible use of technology.
He said the media should focus less on who breaks news first and more on responsible publishing, protecting the truth and helping citizens understand it.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the 2027 elections would take place against an increasingly complex information environment, with AI capable of generating convincing photographs, videos, audio recordings and documents.
Idris said the Presidential and National Assembly elections were scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections would hold on February 6.
He urged editors to establish strong verification procedures for AI-generated material and resist the temptation to become participants in political contests.
“The job is to establish what is true, provide context and allow citizens to make their own judgments,” Idris said.
He urged greater collaboration among the media, fact-checking organisations, technology experts, election authorities and civil society ahead of the polls.
The minister said the task was ultimately bigger than protecting the credibility of one election.
“It is about protecting the credibility of our democracy,” he said.
