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By Oscar Okhifo
The Presidency on Wednesday called for legal action against social media influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), over the circulation of an alleged fake audio purportedly linked to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga made the demand in a post on X on Wednesday, alleging that the social media influencer deliberately circulated false content aimed at misleading Nigerians.
He said the viral audio clip, which was purported to contain comments by Tinubu on the 2027 presidential election and opposition figure Peter Obi, was fabricated and did not originate from the President.
“This VDM needs to face the weight of the law for being the conveyor and disseminator of a fake audio of President Tinubu. This is a clear case of an egregious abuse of the social media platform,” Onanuga wrote.
The presidential aide maintained that the recording being circulated online did not emanate from the President and warned against the spread of misinformation on digital platforms.
The controversial audio recording has continued to generate reactions online, with some social media users questioning its authenticity and alleging that it was politically motivated ahead of the 2027 elections.
But the Presidency insisted that the audio was fake, stressing that individuals involved in its creation and circulation should be identified and prosecuted in line with the law.
VDM, who is no stranger to controversy and previous legal battles, has not yet reacted to the latest call for legal action.
It remains to be seen whether he will admit to the alleged falseness of the audio and issue an apology, or stand by his position as the matter unfolds.