By Dare Akogun
As part of efforts of combating disinformation and misinformation ahead of the 2023 Elections stakeholders will be holding an interactive session with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
A statement issued today in Lagos by the Communications Officer International Press Centre , Ms. Olutoyin Ayoade, said experts from INEC, the media and the civil society will assemble in Abuja on Saturday to brainstorm on the challenge of disinformation and misinformation as the 2023 general elections beckons.
The statement said the interface between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders on flashpoints of electoral disinformation and misinformation is organised by the International Press Centre (IPC), the lead partner of component 4 (Support to media) of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria-Phase II (EUSDGN II) project.
According to the statement “To be chaired by Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim, Chairman of the Editorial Board of Premium Times and Senior Fellow of Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), the interface at which Festus Okoye, INEC Commissioner for Information and Voter Education 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 the Nigeria 2019 elections, fake news can be potentially weaponized, if appropriate measures are not properly established to tackle it”, the statement added.
The statement said atleast 40 stakeholders including editors, correspondents, CSO representatives, the INEC 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”, it stated.
