Election: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has once more sounded the alarm on the alarming surge in fake news and misinformation, cautioning that it poses a severe threat to the management of elections in the country if left unchecked.
In the wake of the 2023 general elections, the commission expressed its dismay over the proliferation of fake news, hate speech, and misinformation, stressing that these divisive tactics are fueling religious and tribal tensions, leading to the polarization of the nation.
During a two-day capacity-building workshop organized for members of the INEC Press Corps and sponsored by Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI), tagged “Ethical, Safety Practices and Critical Issues Relating to the Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa Governorship Elections”, Prof Kunle Ajayi, a national commissioner and member of the Information and Voter Education Committee of the Commission, underscored the rising use of elections-related disinformation as a tool by unscrupulous elements and groups within the political arena.
Prof Ajayi emphasized the detrimental impact such deceptive propaganda could have on the overall peace, stability, and integrity of the electoral process and the nation as a whole.
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.
“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.”
According to Rudolf Elbling, the Team Leader at DAI, the media constitutes an indispensable element of any democratic system. Elbling emphasized that a democratic election cannot exist without the presence of the media, as it serves as a vital overseer ensuring the transparency of the electoral process.
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Elbling highlighted the necessity for journalists to uphold a standard of professionalism, precision, and neutrality in their reporting, emphasizing the pivotal role of transparency across various aspects, including access to information, accountability, the legitimacy of individuals and institutions, as well as fostering meaningful public participation and discourse.
