LAGOS/Nigeria: A reported attempt to manufacture public support for political positions in Kenya has prompted fresh concerns about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence in Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Orodata, a Nigerian data and civic technology organisation, raised the concern in a publication titled “Manufactured Grassroots: Lessons for Civil Society from a Reported AI Influence Attempt in Kenya,” officially released to the media in Lagos on Tuesday.
The publication examines a case documented in a September 2026 threat intelligence report by artificial intelligence company Anthropic, which identified an operation involving AI-generated social media content designed to resemble spontaneous political opinions expressed by ordinary citizens.
According to Anthropic’s findings, a single operator used its Claude AI models to produce batches of political messages intended to amplify pro-government narratives and portray opposition politicians as divided ahead of Kenya’s 2027 general election.
The posts included praise for Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi over a proposed electricity tariff increase that was reportedly halted, alongside claims suggesting divisions within the opposition coalition.
Anthropic said the operator specifically instructed the AI system to make the posts appear like authentic grassroots commentary rather than part of a coordinated political communication effort.
The findings illustrate how AI tools can be used to produce political content in large quantities, potentially blurring the distinction between genuine public opinion and organised attempts to influence perceptions.
However, Anthropic reported that the operation remained largely confined to its network of inauthentic accounts and failed to achieve significant engagement with real audiences. The company said it identified and disrupted the activity, removing the account and the organisation associated with it.
The report also stated that investigators found no evidence of government involvement in the operation.
For Nigeria, where political parties, candidates and their supporters are expected to intensify public engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections, the case presents an important challenge for civic education, media monitoring and public accountability.
The concern extends beyond the circulation of false information to the deliberate creation of an artificial impression of widespread public support. When coordinated messages are presented as independent opinions, citizens may find it more difficult to assess the actual level of public backing for a policy, candidate or political movement.
Civil society organisations, journalists and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s electoral process therefore have a role to play in strengthening public awareness of coordinated online influence activities.
The challenge also underscores the importance of examining the sources, patterns and authenticity of political messages circulating on social media, rather than relying solely on the volume of posts, comments or apparent online reactions as evidence of public sentiment.
As preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum, the Kenyan case offers a cautionary example of how emerging technology can be used to shape political narratives while concealing the coordination behind them.
For Nigerian voters, the central issue is how to distinguish authentic civic participation from manufactured digital support. Safeguarding informed political choices will require responsible technology use, credible journalism, effective civic education and greater public scrutiny of online political communication.
As political communication increasingly takes place online, AI-generated content could complicate efforts to establish whether widely circulated political messages reflect authentic citizen views.
The case also points to the importance of scrutinising digital political campaigns without confusing legitimate political expression with coordinated manipulation.
“For civil society groups, journalists and other stakeholders, the challenge is to recognise potentially misleading online activity while protecting citizens’ ability to express political opinions freely.
The report said that the Kenyan experience provides a relevant case for Nigeria as stakeholders consider the implications of AI-assisted political communication for public debate and democratic participation ahead of the 2027 elections.
