One critical issue that requires urgent attention as the 2023 elections beckon is how to tackle the menace of fake news in Nigeria’s information space.

To address disinformation and misinformation during the electioneering period, the International Press Centre (IPC) will host a strategic interface with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and selected media experts in Abuja on Saturday, December 10th, 2022.

A statement by Ms Olutoyin Ayoade, Communications Officer of IPC, the interface which is organised in support of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria-Phase II (EUSDGN II) project, will be attended by media experts and top stakeholders from the INEC from different parts of the country to brainstorm on the danger of fake news in the country.

Keynote will be delivered by the Chairman information and voter education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye while the chairman of the event will be the Chairman of the Editorial Board of Premium Times and a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim.

The statement reads: “Experts from INEC, the media and the civil society will on Saturday, December 10, 2022, assemble in Abuja to brainstorm on the challenge of disinformation and misinformation as the 2023 general elections beckons.

“The interface between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders on flashpoints of electoral disinformation and misinformation ahead of the 2023 Elections is being 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.

“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.

“At least 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”, Ms Ayoade stated.