2027: Experts Say AI Now Used for Disinforming Voters

By Adegbuyi Fathia and Nwaeze Celine

Experts have warned that artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used to spread disinformation and discourage Nigerians from participating in elections ahead of the 2027 general election.

The technocrats spoke at a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) workshop on disinformation and misinformation held at the Afe Babalola Auditorium, University of Lagos, on Thursday, September 3, 2026.

Silas Jonathan, a fact-checker and news integrity researcher, said AI-generated content was being used to convince voters that voting was futile and democracy was ineffective, thereby weakening public trust in the electoral process.

He warned that the growing use of AI in disinformation campaigns could deepen existing divisions in Nigerian society and undermine citizens’ confidence in democratic institutions.

Jonathan said AI-generated disinformation had evolved beyond edited images to include sophisticated video avatars and complete messages designed to appear authentic and influence public opinion.

Ufuoma Nnamdi Udeh, executive director of Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE), said disinformation during the 2023 general election was largely driven by financial gain. However, she noted that the motive was increasingly shifting towards political gain, reflecting a broader international trend.

She warned that this shift could make disinformation a more deliberate tool for influencing political opinions and electoral choices.

Doctor Chinonso Fidelis Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor, also recounted how AI-generated videos and images of him had been used to spread false information on social media.

He stressed the importance of trust in communication, noting that people were more likely to be influenced when they believed the person communicating with them was also willing to listen to and learn from them.

The workshop also examined how investigators uncover coordinated disinformation campaigns.

During a session on investigative research, Confidence MacHarry, a geopolitics and conflict analyst, discussed tactics used during the 2023 elections and explained how researchers could track coordinated disinformation, including Russian influence in Africa and digital abuse.

In her keynote address, Juliet Njeri, BBC regional director for Africa, spoke about the broadcaster’s global reach and reputation for trust. She also announced that the BBC was developing tools to detect AI-generated images, deepfakes and patterns of video manipulation.

The discussions highlighted the growing challenge posed by AI-generated disinformation and the need to identify deceptive content before it undermines public trust and democratic participation ahead of the 2027 elections.