| Abstract: |
This study examined the disinformation and misinformation in Nigeria: digital subversion and democratic vulnerability in the information age. Information Manipulation Theory was anchored in this study. The study adopted a qualitative research method (Email interview technique). The population comprised media professionals, communication scholars, digital rights advocates and civic technology actors in Nigeria, with an estimated figure of 1,200 individuals based on professional directories and memberships in relevant associations such as the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), and Paradigm Initiative. A purposive sample of 20 respondents was selected. The sampling technique was purposive sampling and data were collected via semi-structured email interviews. The responses were analysed using thematic content analysis, enabling the identification of recurring patterns, narratives and contradictions within participants' perspectives. The finding revealed that disinformation and misinformation have significantly eroded public trust in Nigeria's democratic institutions, as citizens increasingly rely on unverified content from social media, leading to widespread scepticism toward electoral bodies, the judiciary and legislative processes, which in turn fuels voter apathy and civic disengagement. The study concluded that the persistent spread of disinformation and misinformation in Nigeria has critically damaged public trust in democratic institutions, with citizens increasingly relying on unverified sources and rejecting official narratives, thereby, threatening the legitimacy, participation and stability of democratic governance. The study recommended that, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should implement nationwide media literacy and civic education programs to rebuild public trust in democratic institutions.
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