The Presidency has cautioned against what it described as a growing pattern of digital misinformation and the deliberate weaponisation of religion for political purposes across online platforms.

In a statement, the Presidency said it had observed the circulation of manipulated content, including a video with fake audio and false attributions aimed at portraying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a negative light using the identity of a social media influencer. It also alleged that another deepfake video falsely framed around a religious leader was being shared in an attempt to provoke religious tension against the President.

It described the trend as part of a broader strategy by certain actors to manufacture outrage, distort religious narratives, manipulate context, and spread falsehoods across social media and messaging platforms as the political season approaches.

The statement reaffirmed that President Tinubu is a Muslim married to a Christian, and leads a constitutionally multi-religious country founded on freedom of worship, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence. It added that the President’s consistent position is that Nigeria belongs to citizens of all faiths and backgrounds who are committed to peace, progress, and national unity.

Citing the President’s 2026 Lent and Ramadan message, the Presidency noted his emphasis on shared values between Christianity and Islam, including compassion, sacrifice, justice, peace, and love for humanity.

It urged Nigerians to verify information before sharing and to consider who benefits from attempts to incite religious division.

The Presidency warned that such acts amount to coordinated digital manipulation aimed at undermining national cohesion. It further stated that, in line with Nigeria’s cybercrime and public order laws, individuals involved in producing or disseminating false and inciting content will be identified and reported to relevant authorities for investigation and possible prosecution.