The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned against fake news and misleading news during the electoral process for the Edo governorship election scheduled for September 21.
The INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, gave the warning during a press briefing on Friday I’m Abuja.
Olumekun, who was represented by the Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Mary Nkem, emphasised the critical role the media plays in ensuring the integrity of the upcoming election and cautioned against what he called misinformation during the process.
According to him, spreading false information or fake news could ignite public unrest and erode trust in the election results.
He said, “In this digital age, we are acutely aware of the dangers posed by fake and misleading news, especially during an election period.
“Such information has the potential to disrupt the electoral process, undermine public confidence and incite unnecessary tensions,” he said.
He stated that INEC had devised strategies to counter likely fake news in order to maintain transparency and provide timely updates.
The commissioner urged the public to rely on the commission for accurate information, adding that various channels had been made available for voters and the media to verify any election-related news directly with the INEC.
“The commission has taken proactive steps to combat this menace, part of which is to be open and transparent in all its dealings.
“We have made it a culture to constantly update the public through you after every commission’s meeting when decisions are taken.
“We will intensify the information flow as we move closer to the Edo governorship election. Measures have been put in place to minimise circulation of false information,” he said.
While urging journalists to remain vigilant, he noted that the commission had taken steps to mitigate the risks of fake news, including regular communication with stakeholders and the media.
He however noted that “we cannot do this alone. We believe that you will remain a bulwark against fake and misleading information about the commission and the electoral process.
“We urge the public and the media to play their parts by verifying any information related to the election directly with the commission before sharing.
“Our doors are open for any inquiries, and we have established multiple channels through which the public can reach us for accurate information,” he pledged.