Int’l Press Centre, INEC, others to brainstorm about electoral Disinformation
Amina Mohammed
As the 2023 general elections beckon, the International Press Centre, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Media, and Civil Society Organizations will on Saturday, December 10, 2022 assemble in Abuja to brainstorm about the challenge of disinformation and misinformation.
According to a statement signed by Ms. Olutoyin Ayoade, Communications Officer, International Press Centre (IPC), the interface between the INEC and other stakeholders is organized by the International Press Centre (IPC) and the lead partner of component 4 (Support to Media) of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria-Phase II (EUSDGN II) project.
The Chairman of the Editorial Board of Premium Times and Senior Fellow of Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim, would chair the interface, while the INEC’s Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, who will give the keynote address, is expected to outline measures for curbing fake news in the electoral process.
“If the spread of fake news in the electoral process is left unchecked, it could deny the voters the opportunity to make informed choices at the polls while it may also induce hate speech and electoral violence.
“As observed during Nigeria’s 2019 elections, fake news can be potentially weaponized, if appropriate measures are not properly established to tackle it,” the statement read in part.
About 40 stakeholders including editors; correspondents; representatives of Civil Society Organizations; the INEC’s Director of Voter Education, Mr. Ayo Aluko; and the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi are expected at the interface.
The specific objective of the EU-funded media component is to ensure that “the Media, including new and Social Media provides fair, accurate, ethical and inclusive coverage of the electoral process.”
