The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned against the spread of fake news and misinformation during the forthcoming Edo State governorship election, News About Nigeria reports.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, INEC’s national commissioner and chairman of the information and voter education committee, Sam Olumekun, explained the role of the media in ensuring the integrity of the election.
Olumekun said that the spread of false information could lead to public unrest and erode trust in the election results.
He urged the media to verify any election-related news directly with INEC.
“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.
The commission said it committed to maintaining transparency and providing timely updates to counter the spread of fake news.
Olumekun said INEC has also established multiple channels for the public to verify information and has taken proactive steps to combat the menace of fake news.
“However, 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.”
The Edo governorship election is scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024.
He added that the commison has completed key preparations such as installing Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines and printing triplicate copies of the voters’ register for all 4,519 polling units in the state.
