Florence Ajimobi, ambassador-designate and widow of former Oyo State governor Abiola Ajimobi, has distanced herself from a viral video that appeared to show her declaring “war” against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general elections in Oyo State.
Ajimobi, a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), was initially reported to have made the remarks at a political gathering.
The footage, widely circulated online, depicted her vowing that the PDP “must go” and insisting that the APC was fully prepared to challenge the ruling party at both state and federal levels.
“We’re going to war in 2027. It’s going to be a head-on contest. PDP must go,” the video showed her saying.
Clarification from Ajimobi’s Office
On Saturday, Ajimobi’s office issued a statement refuting the video, describing it as a digitally manipulated deepfake.
“The footage is a deepfake, where artificial intelligence has been used to manipulate the lip movements and voice to deliver a script that Dr. Ajimobi never spoke,” the statement explained.
Her office stressed that the video was a clear example of synthetic deception, warning that AI-generated content could be weaponised to distort political narratives.
“This video is a clear example of the ‘synthetic deception’ that experts have warned will be used to influence the 2027 political cycle. The use of AI to impersonate public figures and manufacture controversial statements is a dangerous precedent that undermines the integrity of democratic discourse,” the statement added.
Implications of Synthetic Media
Ajimobi’s office urged the public, media outlets, and security agencies to verify the authenticity of content before sharing or reporting it.
“In an era where digital manipulation is becoming increasingly sophisticated, it is vital to confirm the source and accuracy of such inflammatory content before distribution,” the statement advised.
The clarification comes amid growing concerns about the role of artificial intelligence in shaping political discourse, particularly as Nigeria approaches the 2027 elections.
Ajimobi reaffirmed her commitment to democratic values and announced plans to pursue legal action against those responsible for creating and distributing the manipulated video.
Her office concluded: “Dr. Ajimobi remains committed to democratic principles and will not be distracted by attempts to malign her reputation.”
The controversy highlights the rising threat of deepfake technology in politics and raises questions about how Nigeria will safeguard its democratic processes against synthetic media in the years ahead.
But not everyone is buying the denial from Mrs Ajimobi’s office.
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