The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sent a warning to media platforms in the country of the dangerous consequences of disinformation and fake news, blaming these for the spate of violence during elections.
The National Commissioner and member of INEC, Information and Voter Education Committee, Prof. Kunle Ajayi stated this at a two-day capacity building workshop of the INEC Press Corps on ethical, safety practices and critical issues relating to the Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo governorship elections in Akwanga, Nasarawa State.
While recognising that the media is a critical partner and stakeholder of the commission in the electoral process, Prof. Ajayi noted, however, that the issue of fake news propagated by some media platforms left a sour taste during the 2023 general election.
‘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,’ he said.
He noted that election-related disinformation during the 2023 polls was allegedly used by individuals and groups to manipulate the general public to their advantage regardless of the consequences for the peace and stability of the country.
Prof. Ajayi, therefore, insisted that the media “must commit to delivering thorough, verified, and unbiased information, pulled from credible sources to the public.
‘At the same time, they must refrain from reporting information that encourages divisions or antagonistic discussions, which are likely to incite violence or endanger social life.
‘In essence, in reporting the activities of the commission; pre-election, election, and post-election activities, we plead with the media to be factual, objective, and professional in their reportage. Journalists covering the elections should on no account interfere with the processes and procedures of voting or in any way distract the attention of presiding officers in the performance of their duties’.
He assured the electoral body to remain transparent in its activities and communicate all relevant information to the media
‘When necessary, feel free to fact-check any considered grey areas for clarity from the Voter Education and Publicity (VEP) Department of the commission’ he advised.
He also admonished members of the INEC Press Corps to be safety and security conscious during the coming governorship elections, especially in flood-prone areas of Bayelsa and Kogin states, warning those to be deployed to such areas to go with their life jackets as part of their kits.