By Amarachi Jim-Nwoko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Godwin Elumelu, has warned that the growing spread of disinformation, fake news and digitally manipulated content poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy and the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
Elumelu gave the warning on Tuesday while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists FCT Council held at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja.
Speaking on the theme, “2027 Election: Defending Democracy in the Era of Disinformation,” the former lawmaker described the topic as timely and critical to the nation’s democratic future.
According to him, Nigeria is approaching a defining moment in its democratic journey, noting that beyond the usual political challenges, the country now faces the dangerous rise of disinformation, misinformation and propaganda deliberately deployed to manipulate public opinion and weaken democratic institutions.
He said false narratives, doctored videos, fabricated reports and Artificial Intelligence-generated content were increasingly being used to inflame tensions, scandalize individuals and discredit institutions ahead of elections.
Elumelu noted that democracy can only thrive when citizens are adequately informed, stressing that the spread of falsehoods and manipulative narratives undermines public trust and threatens the integrity of elections even before votes are cast.
He expressed concern that the situation was worsened by high illiteracy levels and poor public enlightenment, which, according to him, make many Nigerians vulnerable to rumours, hearsay and misinformation.
The former Minority Leader described the media as the cornerstone of democracy and urged journalists to remain committed to professionalism, truth and ethical reporting.
He charged media organisations not to sacrifice accuracy for speed in the race to break news, insisting that verification and fact-checking must remain central to journalism practice.
“Elumelu said journalists must resist attempts by political actors to compromise reports for selfish interests and continue to hold leaders and institutions accountable.”
He further urged the media to promote issue-based political campaigns centred on policies, ideas and solutions rather than propaganda, divisive rhetoric and character attacks.
The former lawmaker also called on government institutions to strengthen regulatory frameworks capable of tackling disinformation without undermining press freedom.
He advocated stronger support for independent fact-checking organisations, expansion of digital literacy programmes and investment in technologies capable of detecting fake and manipulated content.
Elumelu stressed that defending democracy requires collective responsibility, urging political leaders, journalists, institutions and citizens to work together to protect democratic values ahead of the 2027 elections.
He also appealed to politicians to conduct themselves responsibly and avoid desperate attempts to gain power through falsehoods, divisive campaigns and actions capable of overheating the polity.
The former Minority Leader commended the NUJ for what he described as its longstanding patriotism and commitment to democracy, urging journalists not to relent in the fight against disinformation and in promoting credible, free and fair elections in Nigeria.
