Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has admonished the Media and Nigerians to stop relying on fake news feeds and the purveyors especially as it concerns election results on social media.
Mohammed gave the gave the charge on Saturday in his home town, Oro, South of Ilorin in Central Nigeria after casting his vote in the Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
He also appealed to the media houses to act responsibly in publishing or broadcasting election results.
“You don’t have to post election results without checking the source and the best way and most authentic is to hear from INEC.The media houses should abide by the National Broadcasting Commission’s regulations regarding the announcement of election results .
“What we have noticed in the past 20 years is that election violence does not start during voting but it is at the point of collation or announcement of results that violence starts.
“Fake news is a fuel of this kind of violence because If you post a fake results from a particular unit and it is at variance with the authentic result by INEC, that would lead to violence,” he said.
Mohammed enjoined eligible voters and party agents to wait patiently until the presiding officer announced results and they should cross-check same before transmission.
He stated that party agents should be vigilant and show a lot of responsibility.
Speaking on how the election went in his polling unit, the Minister said the process was peaceful, there was massive turn-out of voters and he was satisfied.
“What struck me most is the turn-out – the young, old, strong, the physically challenged men and women, they all came out to cast their votes.
“You can see the determination and resolve on their faces in atmosphere of conviviality.
“I hope that it will be the same atmosphere and ambience in every other polling units,” he added.
Confidence Okwuchi
