Ahead of the 11th November governorship in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo States, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has again raised alarm over the rising cases of fake news and misinformation.
The commission stated that fake news was capable of having a negative impact on the management of elections in the country if not nipped in the bud.
The National Commissioner and member of the Information and Voter Education Committee of the Commission, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, made this known on Monday while speaking at a two-day capacity-building workshop for members of the INEC Press Corps in Akwanga, Nasarawa state.
The workshop with the theme “Ethical, Safety Practices and Critical Issues Relating to the Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa Governorship Elections” is sponsored by the Development Alternatives Incorporated.
Ajayi described as distasteful, its experience with fake news, hate speech and misinformation during the 2023 general elections.
He said, “I would like at this juncture, to draw the attention of the media to a crucial issue that poses a serious threat to the election process in Nigeria. That is the issue of fake news.
“The Commission’s distasteful experience with fake news in the 2023 General Elections has shown that, if not nipped in the bud, fake news can become the bane of election management in Nigeria.
“The alarming prevalence of misinformation, ‘fake news’, hate speech, and the weaponization of disinformation has become very worrisome to the Commission.”
The National Commissioner said elections-related disinformation has become a major strategy used by nefarious individuals and groups in the political space to manipulate the general public to their advantage, regardless of the consequential effect such propaganda may have on the peace and stability of the electoral process and the country at large.
He explained “Disinformation is used to provoke religious, political, and tribal sentiments in an already polarized society such as ours, especially, during election season, which is often the leading cause of electoral violence and uprisings.
“Election-related disinformation has become a major strategy used by nefarious individuals and groups in the political space to manipulate the general public to their advantage, regardless of the consequential effect such propaganda may have on the peace and stability of the electoral process and the country at large.
Team Leader for DAI, Rudolf Elbling said the media was an essential part of any democracy, adding that a democratic election without the media is impossible as they act as a crucial watchdog to democratic elections, safeguarding the transparency of the process.
Elbling stated “Election without the media is not complete. The reportage of the media must be correct and factual. Free media is the oxygen for democracy. Journalists must maintain a high level of professionalism”.
