The Presidency has condemned a viral audio allegedly linked to President Bola Tinubu and shared by activist VeryDarkMan, describing it as fake and misleading
A fresh controversy has erupted online after presidential aide Bayo Onanuga called for action against social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), over the circulation of a viral audio clip allegedly linked to President Bola Tinubu.
In a strongly worded post shared on X, Onanuga, who serves as Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, criticised the activist for sharing what he described as a fake and misleading audio recording purportedly featuring the President’s voice.
“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 controversy followed a viral video posted by VDM in which he reacted to an alleged leaked voice note said to resemble President Tinubu.
In the recording, the speaker allegedly made controversial remarks concerning the 2027 elections, insecurity, and other sensitive national issues.
The audio quickly gained traction across TikTok, X, WhatsApp and other social platforms, triggering widespread debate and mixed reactions among Nigerians already frustrated by economic hardship and worsening insecurity.
Presidency officials, however, insist the recording is fabricated and possibly AI-generated, warning against the dangers of misinformation and digitally manipulated content capable of inflaming tensions or misleading the public.
Supporters of VDM have pushed back against the accusations, with some claiming the activist merely reacted to already circulating material online. Others alleged the content may have been edited or manipulated further after publication.
The situation has sparked heated conversations online, especially given the timing, as many Nigerians continue to express outrage over recent cases of insecurity, including the abduction of schoolchildren in parts of the country.
Critics of the government argue that authorities should prioritise urgent national security concerns rather than focusing attention on social media disputes. Supporters of the presidency, however, maintain that the spread of false information, particularly involving the President, must be treated seriously.
This is not the first public clash involving VDM and government authorities.
Also read: Phyna exposes alleged WhatsApp chats of VDM begging for intimacy
The activist has repeatedly drawn attention for his outspoken criticism of public officials and institutions, earning both strong support and backlash online.
As of the time of filing this report, no arrest had been officially announced, while VDM had yet to issue a direct response to Onanuga’s latest remarks.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
