Presidency warns against religion-based political propaganda ahead of 2027 elections

The Presidency has raised concerns over what it described as coordinated attempts by political actors to weaponise religion and spread disinformation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued Thursday by the Office of Digital Engagement and Strategy, the Presidency accused unnamed individuals of circulating manipulated videos, fake audio clips and misleading content designed to incite religious tensions and damage President Bola Tinubu’s image online.

The statement said recent incidents reflected a growing pattern of digitally amplified political propaganda targeted at dividing Nigerians along religious lines as political activities intensify ahead of the next election cycle.

“We are aware of yet another deliberate attempt to weaponise religion for politics across various online platforms,” the statement said.

According to the Presidency, one of the recent incidents involved a manipulated video allegedly overlaid with fake audio and false attributions aimed at portraying President Tinubu negatively through the identity of a public influencer.

It also alleged that another deepfake video was circulated to falsely frame a religious leader in what it described as a calculated attempt to provoke Muslims against the president.

Presidency says offenders will face investigation

The Presidency warned that individuals involved in spreading false and inflammatory content online would be identified and reported to relevant authorities for investigation and possible legal action.

It cited provisions relating to cybercrime, incitement, public mischief and the spread of false information capable of threatening public peace and national security.

“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,” the statement added.

The Presidency also defended Tinubu’s religious and political stance, describing Nigeria as a multi-religious nation founded on constitutional freedom of worship and peaceful coexistence.

“President Bola 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,” it said.

The statement referenced Tinubu’s 2026 Ramadan and Lent message, where he reportedly emphasised that Christianity and Islam share common values including peace, compassion, sacrifice and justice.

The Presidency urged Nigerians to verify information before sharing content online and resist attempts to inflame religious or ethnic divisions through misinformation and politically motivated propaganda.

It added that security and regulatory agencies would continue monitoring digital platforms for content capable of undermining national unity and public peace.

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