Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said it has put in place measures to tackle fake news and misinformation during the September 21 off cycle governorship election in Edo State.
The commission expressed concern about the negative impact that fake news, misinformation and disinformation have on the outcome of elections in the country.
National Commission and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun disclosed this while addressing members of the INEC Press Corps on preparation for the elections.
He said the commission is committed to ensuring that the Edo governorship election is conducted smoothly.
Olumekun said: “In this digital age, we are acutely aware of the dangers posed by fake and misleading news, especially during election period. Such information has the potential to disrupt the electoral process, undermine public confidence and incite unnecessary tensions.
“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 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. 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 part 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. Let us all work together to ensure that only the truth prevails during this election period”.
He said “The commission has left no stone unturned in its efforts to guarantee that this election will be conducted with the highest standards of integrity. As you are aware, we have intensified our engagement with stakeholders at state and local government levels, while voter education is still ongoing at all levels.
“The commission is concluding arrangements with the land and maritime transport unions for logistics. The printing of triplicate copies of voters’ register for each of the 4,519 polling units in Edo State is virtually completed.
“The installation and configuration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, machines to be deployed on election day is completed. Observer and accreditation tags are being produced as well.”
