Morning recap: States owe N5.3tn debt, INEC fears AI disinformation threat, other top stories

Nigeria faces a mounting fiscal challenge with states owing a combined debt of N5.3tn, as twelve governors near the end of their tenures in office. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is wary of AI-driven disinformation potentially undermining the credibility of the 2027 general elections. The commission has initiated an audit of its electoral technology systems and is contemplating a mock presidential election to test various aspects of the electoral process.

In another development, the House of Representatives has launched an investigation into a purported government agency, which has uncovered approximately 58 bank accounts allegedly connected to its Director-General. Additionally, federal workers are demanding a significant increase in the minimum wage, with the Federal Workers Forum proposing a hike from the current N70,000 to N300,000.

Meanwhile, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has warned that a Tinubu defeat in the 2027 presidential election could make him a target for political retaliation from the opposition figures Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.