Tinubu Deepfake: Presidency Alleges Coordinated Plot to Divide Nigerians

Tinubu Deepfake: Presidency Alleges Coordinated Plot to Divide Nigerians

The Presidency has alleged that unnamed political actors are behind the circulation of a fake video of President Bola Tinubu, warning that the manipulated content is aimed at fueling religious tension in Nigeria ahead of the country’s political season.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Presidency dismissed as false a viral online claim linking President Bola Tinubu to a video involving Evangelist Ebuka Obi, founder of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach.

The controversial clip, which surfaced on TikTok, was reportedly shared by the handle internetsecrets2 and allegedly used artificial intelligence-generated technology to falsely depict the President kneeling before the cleric for prayers.

The video, uploaded on May 3, 2026, was accompanied by the caption: “How BOLA AHMED TINUBU Knelt Down And Asked Evang EBUKA OBI To Pray For Him At Zion Prayer Movement Outreach.”

Reacting to the development, the Presidency described the content as fabricated propaganda and part of a coordinated campaign of digital misinformation designed to mislead Nigerians and trigger religious divisions.

According to the statement, the circulation of the video reflects a dangerous trend of deepfake political propaganda, which it said is being deployed to manipulate public opinion and inflame sectarian sentiments.

The Presidency said the latest incident follows another allegedly manipulated clip involving social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, describing both as part of a broader pattern of disinformation.

READ ALSO:

• What I Discussed With Amaechi During Abuja Visit — Atiku
• Ondo Police Arrest Five Suspects Over Kidnap of Two Schoolchildren, Recover N251,000 Ransom
• Two Osun Undergraduates Killed in Suspected Cult Attack

“Today, it is another deepfake video falsely framed around a religious leader in a calculated attempt to provoke Muslims against the President,” the statement read.

“The pattern is becoming increasingly obvious.

“As the political season approaches, desperate actors will continue to manufacture outrage, distort faith, manipulate context, spread falsehoods, and push dangerous emotional bait across social media platforms and WhatsApp groups in an attempt to divide Nigerians for political gain.”

Reaffirming Tinubu’s commitment to religious tolerance, the Presidency stated that the President has never hidden his faith and remains committed to promoting national unity.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has never hidden who he is. He is a Muslim. He is married to a Christian. He leads a multi-religious nation built on constitutional freedom of worship, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence,” the statement said.

It stressed that Nigeria belongs to Christians, Muslims, and citizens of all faiths, warning against attempts to weaponise religion for political advantage.

The Presidency urged Nigerians to exercise caution before sharing provocative online content, noting that AI-generated fake videos pose a serious threat to social cohesion and democratic stability.

“Before sharing such inflammatory content, Nigerians must pause and ask one simple question: who benefits from setting citizens of different faiths against one another?

“This is not faith or patriotism. Neither is it politics. This is coordinated manipulation at scale.”

The Presidency called on citizens to verify information through credible sources and remain vigilant against attempts to destabilise the country through digitally amplified disinformation.

The warning comes amid increasing concerns by technology experts and security analysts over the rising use of deepfake technology in Nigerian politics, particularly as political activities intensify ahead of future elections.

Tinubu Deepfake: Presidency Alleges Coordinated Plot to Divide Nigerians