President Bola Tinubu
Presidency has raised concern over what it described as a coordinated campaign of digital disinformation aimed at inciting religious division and discrediting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 political season.
In a public service announcement issued by the Office of Digital Engagement and Strategy, the Presidency accused unnamed actors of circulating manipulated videos and false narratives designed to provoke Nigerians along religious lines.
According to the statement, recent online content targeting the President forms part of a broader pattern of misinformation and emotional manipulation spreading across social media platforms and WhatsApp groups.
“We are aware of yet another deliberate attempt to weaponise religion for politics across various online platforms,” the statement read.
The Presidency alleged that a manipulated video with fake audio and false attributions was recently circulated to portray President Tinubu negatively through the identity of an influencer. It added that another deepfake video involving a religious leader had now emerged in what it described as a calculated effort to provoke Muslims against the President.
“The pattern is becoming increasingly obvious,” the statement added.
Warning Nigerians against falling for divisive narratives, the Presidency said political actors would continue to exploit religion and emotions as the next election cycle approaches.
“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,” it stated.
The statement stressed that President Tinubu has always been open about his religious identity and commitment to national unity.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has never hidden who he is. He is a Muslim. He is married to a Christian. He leads a multi religious nation built on constitutional freedom of worship, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence,” the Office stated.
It further noted that the President’s position on religious harmony remains unchanged, insisting that Nigeria belongs to citizens of all faiths.
“His position has always been clear: Nigeria belongs to Christians, Muslims, and citizens of every faith and background who believe in peace, progress, and national unity,” the statement said.
Referencing Tinubu’s 2026 Lent and Ramadan message, the Presidency said the President had previously emphasised the shared values between Christianity and Islam, including compassion, sacrifice, justice, peace, and love for humanity.
The Office also urged Nigerians to verify information before sharing sensitive or inflammatory content online.
“Before sharing such inflammatory content, Nigerians must pause and ask one simple question: who benefits from setting citizens of different faiths against one another?” the statement queried.
Describing the trend as “coordinated manipulation at scale,” the Presidency warned that individuals involved in spreading harmful digital disinformation could face legal consequences.
“In line with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including provisions relating to cybercrime, incitement, public mischief, and the malicious spread of false information capable of threatening public peace and national security, relevant cases and digital actors involved in such activities will be identified and reported to the appropriate authorities for investigation and necessary action,” it added.
