2023: INEC Commissioner Speaks On Other Factors That Can Threaten Elections

The Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Olusegun Abaje has come out to outline other factors that can threaten the forthcoming general election.

Abaje, on Thursday at a symposium for journalists themed ‘2023 Elections: Fake news and its implication on security,’ organised by the Lagos State Police Command, said apart from the issues of security, another factor that can be of threat to next month’s polls is the issue of fake news.

According to him, fake news was one of the challenges that are capable of threatening the electioneering process.

Naija News gathered that the Lagos REC noted that the advent of the internet has made fake news the order of the day and if not contained, it can pose a threat to the elections.

Agbaje further explained that the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) recently raised concerns about the potentially disruptive influence of disinformation on elections.

According to him, the centre stated the common forms of fake news in elections include the dissemination of false information to discredit political opponents or to influence voters and the voting process.

He submitted that “One of the big threats to securing the electoral process is fake news. The alarming rate of fake news in Nigeria today is a cause for concern as it threatens national peace and security and is no doubt one of the dreaded challenges facing the country at the moment.

“According to a former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, the #ENDSARS protest that almost turned the country upside down was triggered by fake news which emanated from Ughelli in Delta State.

“No doubt, fake news triggers religious crisis, genocide, communal clashes, jungle justice, electoral violence, etc. Ahead of the 2023 general elections, purveyors of fake news are not relenting in their malicious efforts to put the commission in a bad light.”

Naija News reports that also speaking at the symposium, the State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi observed that the issue of fake news is vital because of the negative impact it causes.

Alabi said, “Electoral disinformation, misinformation as well as the weaponisation of fake news along with incorrect and inflammatory commentaries pose a threat to national peace, security and stability.”