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How Trump Could Threaten the 2026 Election
Confirmed
In Short: Nigeria's heavy reliance on social media makes it vulnerable to misinformation during elections, experts warn.
As Nigeria moves towards its January 2027 general elections, peacebuilders, security experts, and digital communication specialists are warning that misinformation could deepen political tensions, undermine trust in the electoral process, and trigger violence if measures are not taken.
Digital communication expert Aminu Ilyasu Kajuru said Nigeria’s heavy reliance on social media and messaging platforms had made the country vulnerable to misinformation, particularly during elections.
Kajuru recalled that during the 2023 general elections, false information about polling units and electoral activities caused confusion and fear in some communities.
Ahead of 2027, experts are particularly concerned about false claims involving election results, polling units, voting procedures, political candidates, and ethnic or religious groups.
False claims, manipulated videos, fabricated election results, and rumors about candidates, polling units, or communities could spread rapidly through WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms.
The INEC chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, has said the scale of insecurity in several parts of the country is drowning out public confidence, presenting a potent threat to the conduct of free and fair elections.
The police boss called for early release and wide dissemination of the election timetable to support effective planning, logistics coordination, personnel training, and inter-agency collaboration.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, assured the commission of Nigeria Police’s readiness to provide a secure environment for the elections, warning that there would be no preferential treatment for anyone or party.
Amupitan spoke during a courtesy visit to Disu, where he formally sought the support and collaboration of the Nigeria Police ahead of the 2027 general election.
He informed the police leadership that the commission had commenced preparations for the 2027 elections, scheduled for January 16, 2027, for presidential and National Assembly polls, and February 6, 2027, for governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.
The chairman stated that the release of the election timetable and the ongoing political party activities, including ward congresses and conventions, signalled the full activation of the electoral process, which he described as a “security trigger”.
What this adds
The incident has renewed concerns about what could happen if similar false allegations are introduced into a tense political environment during an election.
Autumn 2026 saw a surge in misinformation warnings, with experts emphasizing the need for journalists to prevent misinformation from escalating during elections.
Background
President Donald Trump announced a 'dividend' of $5,000 for every American adult if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate in the upcoming midterm elections, a pledge that has drawn bemusement from economists and lawmakers.
What's confirmed
- As Nigeria moves towards its January 2027 general elections, peacebuilders, security experts, and digital communication specialists are warning that misinformation could deepen political tensions, undermine trust in the electoral process, and trigger violence if measures are not taken.
- Digital communication expert Aminu Ilyasu Kajuru said Nigeria’s heavy reliance on social media and messaging platforms had made the country vulnerable to misinformation, particularly during elections.
- Kajuru recalled that during the 2023 general elections, false information about polling units and electoral activities caused confusion and fear in some communities.
- Ahead of 2027, experts are particularly concerned about false claims involving election results, polling units, voting procedures, political candidates, and ethnic or religious groups.
- False claims, manipulated videos, fabricated election results, and rumors about candidates, polling units, or communities could spread rapidly through WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms.
- The INEC chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, has said the scale of insecurity in several parts of the country is drowning out public confidence, presenting a potent threat to the conduct of free and fair elections.
- The police boss called for early release and wide dissemination of the election timetable to support effective planning, logistics coordination, personnel training, and inter-agency collaboration.
- Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, assured the commission of Nigeria Police’s readiness to provide a secure environment for the elections, warning that there would be no preferential treatment for anyone or party.
- Amupitan spoke during a courtesy visit to Disu, where he formally sought the support and collaboration of the Nigeria Police ahead of the 2027 general election.
- He informed the police leadership that the commission had commenced preparations for the 2027 elections, scheduled for January 16, 2027, for presidential and National Assembly polls, and February 6, 2027, for governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.
- The chairman stated that the release of the election timetable and the ongoing political party activities, including ward congresses and conventions, signalled the full activation of the electoral process, which he described as a “security trigger”.
What's still developing
- “In Nigeria, misinformation spreads faster than ever because of our heavy reliance on WhatsApp and Facebook for daily news. People often forward messages without checking if they are true, especially when the news touches on sensitive areas like fuel prices, politics, religion, food shortages, or election results,” he said.
- Auta said journalists would have an important role in preventing misinformation from escalating during elections.
- The incident has renewed concerns about what could happen if similar false allegations are introduced into a tense political environment during an election.
- Then, David is joined by former Attorney General of the United States Eric Holder to discuss the dismantling of the Voting Rights Act, the battle over gerrymandering, and whether Americans can expect the 2026 midterm elections to be free and fair.
- Fox News correspondent Mark Meredith has the latest on the key storylines shaping the race to the 2026 midterm elections, including the political fallout from the Supreme Court's Missouri redistricting decision, the battle for control of Congress, and the issues driving voters as both parties intensify their push toward November on 'Special Report.' The Missouri Supreme Court signaled Tuesday that it was considering holding Secretary of State Denny Hoskins in contempt amid an escalating battle over proposed congressional maps.
- "We maintain that changing the congressional map in between the primary and general elections is simply not feasible and profoundly unjust to Missouri voters," she wrote on X.
- Hoskins must appear in court Thursday to explain why he shouldn't be held in contempt for instructing election officials to use the 2025 congressional map despite an injunction barring its use.
- Philippines Vice President Sara Duterte posted bail on Saturday after a court order for her arrest was issued a day earlier over charges that she publicly threatened to arrange the assassination of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and two others.
- Duterte later said she had been expressing concern for her own safety and was not threatening Marcos, but the remarks led to a criminal investigation and raised national security concerns.
- The case has become part of the widening political battle between Duterte and Marcos, former allies in the 2022 elections whose partnership has since broken down.
- A conviction could permanently bar Duterte from public office and prevent her from contesting the 2028 presidential election.
- “Of course, nothing has changed. Mr Infantino will be standing for re-election,” FIFA said in a statement.