The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, and the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, Comrade Grace Ike, have called on Nigerian journalists to uphold professional ethics and strengthen information verification amid growing concerns over the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The media leaders warned that AI-generated deepfakes, cloned voices, manipulated images and fabricated videos could spread false information, mislead the public and undermine confidence in the electoral process if not properly identified and addressed.
They made the call during the 2026 Press Week of the NUJ, Voice of Nigeria Chapel, in Abuja, which was organised under the theme, “Truth in the Age of AI: Journalism, Democracy and Nigeria’s 2027 Elections.”
Ndace, represented by VON’s Deputy Director of Digital Media, Dr Qasim Olalere Akinreti, described the theme as timely, noting that the growing influence of artificial intelligence has created new challenges for journalists and the media industry.
He stressed that journalists must ensure their reports provide adequate context and remain guided by professional ethics, public interest and the responsibility to provide credible information.
The VON Director-General also cautioned against publishing unverified stories or content that could create division, particularly during sensitive electoral periods.
He reaffirmed VON’s commitment to maintaining a productive relationship with the NUJ, describing both organisations as partners in promoting credible journalism.
Similarly, Ike warned that artificial intelligence had made it increasingly easy to clone human voices, manipulate images and generate convincing videos, raising concerns about the authenticity of information circulating in the public space.
She urged journalists to prioritise accuracy over speed and avoid amplifying viral content without proper verification.
“In the age of AI, verification is no longer just a step in journalism. Verification is journalism itself,” Ike said.
She noted that the 2027 general elections would place significant responsibility on journalists to demonstrate professional ethics, impartiality and commitment to factual reporting.
The NUJ-FCT chairman also called for balanced coverage of political candidates, parties and institutions, warning that unverified claims could mislead citizens and weaken public confidence in democratic processes.
In his keynote address, the Vice-Chancellor of Baze University, Professor Abiodun Adeniyi, identified AI’s ability to make fabricated information appear authentic as a major challenge facing modern journalism.
He explained that the technology could produce convincing voices, photographs and videos of events that never happened, making it increasingly difficult for audiences to distinguish genuine information from manipulated content.
“The greatest danger artificial intelligence poses to journalism is not simply that machines can manufacture falsehoods. It is that they can increasingly manufacture the appearance of truth,” Adeniyi said.
He urged journalists, however, not to reject artificial intelligence entirely, noting that it could improve productivity, support research, generate ideas and enhance human creativity when used responsibly.
According to him, the challenge lies in the misuse of the technology and the failure to maintain professional judgement, rather than in AI itself.
He emphasised that credibility must remain rooted in rigorous verification and transparent professional practices, stressing that plausible information should not automatically be treated as factual.
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The speakers agreed on the need for stronger ethical standards and responsible adoption of emerging technologies as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
They urged journalists to independently verify information, consider the public interest before publication and avoid using AI-generated materials in ways that could mislead audiences.
The discussions also highlighted the responsibility of media organisations, particularly VON as Nigeria’s international broadcasting service, to maintain accuracy and credibility in their reporting.
With artificial intelligence increasingly capable of producing realistic but misleading content, the speakers maintained that professional journalism must continue to place truth, fairness and accountability at the centre of election coverage.
The 2026 NUJ VON Chapel Press Week provided a platform for media professionals and stakeholders to examine the changing relationship between artificial intelligence, journalism and democracy, particularly as the country approaches another general election. INEC News
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