The Role of AI in Crafting Phishing Emails: A Nigerian Political Case Study

Abstract

This study investigates the growing threat of AI-generated phishing attacks targeting Nigerian public officials, particularly in the context of rising digital communication within governance. Leveraging a quantitative research approach, 120 responses were analysed from a structured survey distributed across major government institutions. The study found high awareness of phishing among respondents (88.9%; Ç ² = 73.64, p < 0.001) but moderate ability to detect AI generated emails (44.4%; Ç ² = 25.36, p < 0.001). Although 66.7% had received suspicious emails ( Ç ² = 13.34, p < 0.001), only 33.3% had formal training ( Ç ² = 13.34, p < 0.001). Institutional preparedness was weak, with limited reporting processes and reliance on basic spam filters ( Ç ² = 106.69, p < 0.001). These results reveal a significant gap between awareness and readiness, underscoring the need for training and AI-driven security measures. Common vulnerabilities include outdated spam filters, lack of reporting channels, and low usage of AI detection systems. The study concludes that Nigerian institutions must adopt proactive, AI-centric cybersecurity strategies to mitigate rising threats posed by generative phishing campaigns.