2027 Election: NYSC DG Warns Corps Members Against AI Misinformation, Political Campaigns on Social Media

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, has warned corps members against reckless social media use as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Nafiu urged young Nigerians to avoid spreading misinformation, sharing artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content, or using their online platforms to promote political parties and candidates. He gave the warning during his visit to the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Katsina.

The NYSC boss said the growing use of AI has made it easier for fake images, videos and misleading information to circulate online, making it necessary for users to verify content before sharing it.

“You don’t just share or repost blindly. Think through what you receive. Verify the source, check when the picture was taken, and determine whether it has been manipulated by AI. Technology has changed the information space completely,” Nafiu said.

With the 2027 elections approaching, the NYSC director-general reminded corps members that they are expected to remain politically neutral, warning that those who use their NYSC identity to campaign for candidates or parties could face consequences.

“As corps members, you are not permitted to campaign for any political party or candidate. If your social media activities are traced to political promotion while wearing the NYSC identity, appropriate action will be taken,” he said.

Nafiu also highlighted the important role corps members could play in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, noting that many of them are likely to participate as ad hoc electoral personnel during the 2027 polls.

He encouraged them to see election duties as a national responsibility, adding that helping citizens exercise their voting rights would contribute more to democracy than personal political involvement.

The NYSC DG further advised corps members to take advantage of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, describing vocational training as essential for surviving in today’s competitive economy.

Meanwhile, Katsina State NYSC Coordinator, Evans Okwor, disclosed that 1,333 corps members are participating in the orientation exercise, comprising 759 males and 574 females. He added that 363 officials from the NYSC and partner agencies are supporting the programme.

Okwor said the camp clinic has attended to hundreds of medical cases since the exercise began, with malaria, typhoid fever, asthma, peptic ulcer disease and body pains among the common health challenges recorded.

The 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course, which began on August 5, is expected to end on August 25, 2026, as preparations continue ahead of the next phase of national service.