By Dare Akogun
The Nigerian FactCheckers’ Coalition (NFC)), as part of its civic responsibility to combat disinformation in Nigeria, will conduct a live fact-checking of claims and counterclaims by candidates in the Arise News Presidential Town Hall meeting.
The Meeting scheduled for tomorrow Sunday 13 November will feature the presidential candidates of Africa Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore; Action Democratic Party, Yabagi Sani; All Progressive Grand Alliance, Prof. Peter Umeadi and Social Democratic Party, Prince Adewole Adebayo.
Managing Editor of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, ICIR in Ajibola Amzat, in a statement on Saturday described the town hall meetings as an important opportunity for candidates to share their thoughts with Nigerians.
According to him, “But we should not take it for granted that the information the politicians will provide is gospel. That is why the role of the Nigeria Factcheckers’ Coalition is crucial in the town hall meeting series,” he said.
Dubawa Editor Kemi Busari expressed satisfaction with the contribution of the Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition so far.
He said the coalition is set to engage important facts on the election and we hope to continuously help in curbing the spread of falsehood and avail citizens with accurate information to make political decisions.
“More and more, we are seeing politicians being careful with their statements. That goes to show how many Nigerian fact-checkers have done to enrich our democracy,” Kemi said.
In the same vein the Editor FactCheckhub Opeyemi Kehinde stressed the resolve of the coalition to provide the electorate accurate information.
“As a member of the coalition, we believe the success of Nigeria’s 2023 election holds the ace to advancing good governance, peace and security of the West African sub-region; thus our resolve to ensure that the Nigerian electorate have access to factual information that could enable them make informed decision during the election and beyond,” he said.
The Nigeria Fact Check Coalition FC comprises leading Nigerian newsrooms and think-tank groups such as Africa Check, Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD; Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, CJID, Daily Trust, Digital Africa Research Lab, Dubawa, FactCheckhub, FactsMatterNG, International Centre for Investigative Reporting, ICIR; Premium Time, The Cable, The Insight.
