Title: The Legal And Ethical Implications Of Misinformation, Disinformation, Fake News And Hate Speech In Nigeria's Political Landscape
Authors: Adedokun Adeyemi Benjamin, Badmus Adegbenro Sulaimon
Volume: 10
Issue: 9
Pages: 416-423
Publication Date: 2026/09/28
Abstract:
This study investigates the legal and ethical implications of misinformation, disinformation, fake news and hate speech in Nigeria's political landscape. The study specifically focuses on Lagos State political landscape and the population of the study population comprises registered journalists who are members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Chapter. The study adopted a survey research design, and a sample of 150 respondents was selected for the study, while the Agenda Setting Theory was adopted. The study used a research questionnaire for data collection and a purposive sampling method. The data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. Findings revealed that misinformation is prevalent in political discussions and campaigns, particularly on social media. Fake news about candidates, parties, and government actions undermines journalistic ethics, as unverified information weakens professional standards. Also, hate speech exacerbates intolerance and violates ethical communication principles, potentially damaging media credibility. In addition, result of the study revealed that misinformation can skew voter perceptions and decisions, jeopardizing electoral fairness and public trust in electoral institutions, while heightening political tension among party supporters. The study recommends the need to foster fact-checking of information within media organisations because this initiative can play a crucial role in debunking fake news and giving accurate information to the public.