Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged Nigerians to remain vigilant against campaign messages manipulated using artificial intelligence as political parties prepare for the 2027 general elections.
Akpabio also appealed to politicians, candidates and their supporters to reject violence and pursue issue-based campaigns, saying no electoral victory justified the loss of a Nigerian life.
Speaking on the floor of the Senate, he called on candidates to set out their policies, respond to difficult questions and allow voters to make their choices freely.
“Let the competition be intense, let it be fair, and let every person involved remember that a country must remain united once the election is over,” Akpabio said.
He warned against allowing political disagreements to deepen divisions along communal, religious or regional lines.
According to him, political competition should not be allowed to turn communities against one another or create conflict between people of different faiths or regions.
“We can argue without making communities compete against each other, or making different faiths fight against each other, or having one part of our country face off against another,” he said.
Akpabio also expressed concern over the spread of false information, saying misinformation could fuel fear and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
“We need to stop violence, fear, and the false information that spreads quickly and causes people to lose trust,” he said.
He urged candidates to focus on explaining their ideas and responding to scrutiny while allowing voters to make informed decisions.
“No electoral prize is worth taking a Nigerian life. No victory should be celebrated if it leaves the country hurt,” Akpabio said.
He reiterated his warning about AI-manipulated campaign material, urging voters to scrutinise political messages and candidates to engage in peaceful and substantive campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections.
