Presidency Accuses VDM of Sharing Fake AI-Generated Audio of Tinubu

THE Nigerian Presidency has accused social media influencer and activist, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), of allegedly disseminating a fake, AI-generated audio purportedly featuring the voice of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The allegation followed the circulation of an edited video clip on social media in which an artificial intelligence-generated voice, made to sound like the President, was superimposed on one of VDM’s videos.

On Wednesday, 27 May 2026, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, reacted to the viral clip on X, accusing the activist of abusing social media platforms.

“This VDM need to face the weight of the law as he dey convey and disseminate fake audio of President Tinubu. This na clear case of abuse of the social media platform,” Onanuga wrote while reposting the edited video.

The controversial audio falsely attributed to President Tinubu contained remarks suggesting that insecurity in Nigeria would worsen, particularly in the South-East, and also claimed that the President was unconcerned about the country’s security challenges.

However, findings indicate that the audio was not part of the original video posted by VDM.

In the original footage shared on Monday, 25 May 2026, VDM appeared seated while reacting to another social media personality, King Mitchy, who had referenced him and his necklace in a separate video.

After playing King Mitchy’s clip, VDM proceeded to play an old campaign video of President Tinubu in which the President promised to improve electricity supply in Nigeria, stating that Nigerians should refuse to vote for him for a second term if he failed to deliver.

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“I will not remain a sitting duck in a party where I cannot advance the interests of Delta Central, Delta State and Nigeria.”

Before playing the video, VDM said: “You see this next video wey I wan play, I go come know whether dem don cook your mind, una wey wan support Bola Tinubu.”

Investigations suggest that another individual later edited the clip by adding an AI-generated voiceover designed to imitate President Tinubu’s voice, thereby creating the impression that VDM had intentionally shared the manipulated audio.

In the fabricated audio, the cloned voice allegedly stated that attempts to remove him from office would fail, claimed he asked former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to step down, and threatened to allow insecurity to worsen in the South-East.

Observers have warned that such AI-generated misinformation could inflame ethnic tensions and worsen insecurity concerns in Nigeria, especially at a time when the country continues to grapple with kidnappings, attacks on farmers, and abductions of worshippers.

Artificial intelligence experts have repeatedly cautioned against the misuse of AI tools for voice cloning, impersonation and misinformation campaigns.
According to the Centre for AI Safety, AI technologies can be weaponised for harmful purposes, including impersonation and the spread of disinformation capable of destabilising societies and undermining collective decision-making.

Across Europe, the European Union has moved to regulate the technology through its Artificial Intelligence Act aimed at protecting citizens’ rights and controlling the use of AI systems.
Nigeria, however, is yet to establish comprehensive legislation specifically addressing AI-related impersonation, voice cloning and digital misinformation.
VDM, whose real name is Martins Vincent Otse, is a controversial online activist known for confronting public officials, exposing alleged corruption and commenting on social issues.
His activism has led to multiple arrests and several pending court cases across Nigeria.