The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in strategic partnership with UNESCO and the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI), has launched a proactive campaign to safeguard the 2027 general election from the corrosive effects of misinformation and electoral violence. During a high-level stakeholders’ dialogue in Abuja, INEC officials emphasized that the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy is increasingly threatened by a deluge of false narratives and digital manipulation. By bringing together civil society, youth groups, and the media, the commission aims to foster a culture of information integrity, ensuring that public trust is restored and maintained ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Mrs. Esther Chibukem, Assistant Director of Information at INEC, highlighted how the rapid dissemination of fake news—ranging from baseless reports about the INEC chairman’s health to fabricated commission statements—intentionally destabilizes public confidence. She drew a crucial distinction between misinformation, which occurs unintentionally, and disinformation, which is a calculated tactic used to manipulate public opinion or incite civil unrest. Chibukem warned that physical violence does not occur in a vacuum; it is almost always preceded by a volatile environment fueled by hate speech, deep-fakes, and the deliberate circulation of inflammatory content on social media platforms.
Providing a harrowing personal testimony, Chibukem shared her harrowing experience as a presiding officer in Kogi State, where she was abducted at gunpoint and forced to thumbprint ballot papers for a specific political party. This incident, she noted, highlights the grim reality faced by electoral staff and the exploitation of vulnerable youth who are often weaponized by politicians for pathetic sums of money. She lamented a system where political elites secure their own children’s futures abroad while recruiting disenfranchised young Nigerians to perpetuate thuggery, stressing that stopping these cycles of impunity requires a unified, community-wide commitment to peace.
UNESCO’s Regional Representative for the Sahel, Dimitri Sanga, further contextualized the problem by noting that the rise of artificial intelligence and digital communication has revolutionized political discourse, offering both unprecedented civic participation and significant risks. He argued that media and information literacy (MIL) is no longer an optional skill but a fundamental requirement for the 21st-century citizen. By equipping voters with the critical thinking capacity to verify information and identify manipulated content, UNESCO believes that Nigeria can build a more resilient democratic infrastructure where the quality of truth dictates the stability of the nation.
Dr. Sharon Omotosho, Director of IMILI, echoed these sentiments, labeling the current dialogue as a pivotal intervention for Nigeria’s political stability. As the head of the world’s first Category 2 International Media and Information Literacy Institute, she emphasized that the training provided during these sessions is designed to be actionable. Participants from government, political parties, and media organizations are tasked with cascading these competencies within their spheres of influence, transforming themselves from passive consumers of news into active guardians of democratic communication.
Ultimately, the consensus among these stakeholders is that peacebuilding must be an exhaustive, year-round endeavor rather than an afterthought triggered only on election day. From the earliest stages of party primaries and candidate campaigns through to the final declaration of results, the commission is pushing for a holistic strategy that includes stronger inter-agency security cooperation and transparent grievance mechanisms. By prioritizing ethical communication and rejecting the tactics of intimidation and falsehood, the commission hopes to foster an electoral environment defined by legitimacy, public safety, and integrity.
