Ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has issued a warning to media organizations regarding the dissemination of fake news and misleading reports.
During the first quarterly consultative meeting with media organizations in Abuja, Yakubu stressed the importance of combatting misinformation, stating, “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.”
With the Edo governorship poll scheduled for September 21, 2024, and the Ondo governorship poll set for November 16, 2024, Yakubu stated the urgent need for accurate reporting, noting that only ten parties have uploaded their candidates’ particulars on the INEC portal with just three days left before the deadline for the Edo poll.
Yakubu reaffirmed the importance of media engagement with political parties and aspirants, stating, “Party primaries are as important as the main election conducted by INEC.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.”
The President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Chris Isiguzo urged everyone to collaborate to make sure that the upcoming elections in the states of Edo and Ondo, as well as subsequent elections, are carried out in a transparent, fair, and honest manner.
