The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) expressed concern about the “weaponization” of disinformation during elections.
The impartial election observer expressed grave concern over the trend.
On the first day of a two-day capacity building and workshop for INEC Press Corps in Nasarawa, National Commissioner and Member, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Prof. Kunle Ajayi, spoke about ethical, safe practices and critical issues related to the upcoming governorship elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa.

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He stressed the importance of the media approaching election coverage with a high level of professionalism, journalistic ethics, and standards.
Ajayi remarked that the timing of the training, just before the off-cycle governorship elections set for November 11th, 2023, was perfect.
In his speech, he emphasized that the Commission’s unpleasant encounter with false news in the 2023 general election shown that, if not curbed, it can become the bane of election management in Nigeria.
In an already polarized culture like Nigeria, disinformation is used to incite religious, political, and tribal passions, especially during election season, as the national commissioner explained.
He blamed the change for sparking electoral violence and unrest.
He said, “The Commission is extremely concerned about the proliferation of misinformation, ‘fake news,’ hate speech, and the weaponization of disinformation.
“In an already polarized culture like ours, disinformation is exploited to incite religious, political, and tribal feelings, especially around election season, which often leads to electoral violence and upheavals.
According to one report, “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.”
Ajayi urged the press to avoid sensationalism and report the facts when covering the story.
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