Off-season polls: Fake news, menace to electoral process — INEC Chairman 

Ahead of Edo and Ondo State governorship elections, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor  Mahmood Yakubu, has again appealed to journalists to refrain from fake news and misleading reports, describing it as menace to electoral process.

The INEC Chairman offered the admonition on Thursday at a quarterly consultative meeting with media organisations.

Professor Yakubu assured that his Commission would keep to transparency which he noted is the antidote to fake news.

He said: “A very important reality in today’s age of information technology is the spread of fake news and misinformation instantly and on a global scale. As I said on many occasions, INEC does not believe in censorship. The best antidote to fake news is greater openness and transparency.

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“It is in furtherance of this policy that the commission interfaces regularly with stakeholders through our regular consultative meetings. We appreciate our partnership with the media and I want to reassure you that INEC will continue to work closely with you. We welcome your reports, commentaries and analyses on elections in particular and electoral activities in general.

“More specifically, some of the innovations introduced by the commission to improve service delivery to the electorate, ensure the safety and security of journalists and grant them unimpeded access to various locations during elections and electoral activities draw from your reports as well as the suggestions and recommendations made during our quarterly meetings. I urge you to continue to be a bulwark against fake news and misleading narratives about the commission and its activities.”

Professor Yakubu also urged journalists to show more interest in fidelity to internal democracy as political parties conduct their primaries.

“Doing so will go a long way to strengthen our democracy since only the products of the party primaries are ultimately placed on the ballot paper for citizens to vote for in the main election.

“Party primaries are as important as the main election conducted by INEC.”

In his presentation, the President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo, appealed to media organisations to recommit themselves to the noble ideals of democracy, accountability, and civic responsibility.

“Let us work together to ensure that the forthcoming elections in Edo and Ondo states, as well as future elections, are conducted with the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and transparency.”