Nigeria heads into 2027 election worried about AI, report warns it's unprepared

Nigeria's election landscape is about to get a whole lot more complicated, thanks to the looming presence of artificial intelligence. For Akinolu Ayodeji, a 32-year-old resident of Lagos, the thought of AI-generated misinformation spreading through social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook is a daunting one. As an avid follower of politics, Akinolu relies heavily on these platforms for news and updates, but he's also aware of the risks involved. "I've seen how fake news can spread like wildfire on WhatsApp," he says. "It's scary to think about what might happen if AI-generated content starts to circulate during the 2027 elections."

According to a recent report by SB Morgen Intelligence, a market and security intelligence-gathering firm, most Nigerians are indeed worried about the potential impact of AI on the upcoming elections. The report, titled 'The Algorithm and the Ballot Box,' surveyed 829 respondents across eight states, spanning all six geopolitical zones, and was conducted between April and May 2026. The findings suggest that 52.1% of respondents rely on social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and TikTok as their primary source of political news. What's more, 95.1% of Nigerian internet users reportedly use WhatsApp, making it the most popular platform for political discourse.

The report highlights a major issue with WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption, which makes it difficult for fact-checkers to detect and moderate AI-generated content shared in private chats and groups. This allows false information to spread unchecked, making it harder for voters to distinguish between fact and fiction. As the report notes, about 12% of respondents admitted they don't verify political information before accepting or sharing it. While 53.3% of respondents said they cross-check political claims against other news sources, and 20.9% search online for confirmation, the 12% could represent millions of voters who could become conduits for AI-generated misinformation during an election cycle.

The report also reveals a striking contradiction at the regional level, dubbed the Southeast Paradox by SBM. The Southeastern region recorded a 42.7% non-verification rate, yet it was the least concerned about AI-generated political misinformation, with only 38.9% expressing their concern. This paradox highlights the complex and often contradictory nature of public opinion on AI-generated content.

As election authorities across Africa grapple with the growing use of artificial intelligence in political campaigns, including the use of deepfake audio and edited images, the stakes are higher than ever. While researchers have found little evidence that AI-generated content alone changes how people vote, it can undermine trust and make authentic evidence easier to dismiss as fabricated. The report warns that Nigeria is woefully unprepared to tackle the challenges posed by AI-generated content, and that the consequences could be severe.

Given the findings of the report, it's likely that AI-generated content will play a significant role in the 2027 elections. As such, it's essential that election authorities, fact-checkers, and social media platforms take proactive measures to mitigate the risks involved. One possible solution is for WhatsApp to introduce measures that allow fact-checkers to detect and moderate AI-generated content in private chats and groups. Additionally, the Nigerian government could consider implementing stricter regulations on the use of AI in political campaigns.

As Nigeria heads into the 2027 elections, the country would do well to take heed of the warnings contained in the SB Morgen Intelligence report. With AI-generated content already spreading like wildfire on social media platforms, the stakes are higher than ever. It's time for Nigeria to take a proactive approach to tackling the challenges posed by AI-generated content, before it's too late.

Given the widespread concern about AI-generated content, I predict that the Nigerian government will announce new regulations on the use of AI in political campaigns within the next six months. These regulations will aim to curb the spread of false information and ensure that election authorities have the tools they need to detect and moderate AI-generated content.