Electoral umpire says false narratives, not guns, are often the first trigger of election violence
By Danjuma AMODU
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in collaboration with UNESCO and other partners, has intensified efforts to combat misinformation, disinformation and electoral violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The call was made during a stakeholders’ dialogue on Promoting Electoral Peace Through Media and Information Literacy, organised by the International Media and Information Literacy Institute, IMILI, with support from UNESCO and the United Nations Information Centre, UNIC, in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Assistant Director of Information and Publication at INEC, Mrs. Esther Chibukem, warned that the rapid spread of false information, particularly on social media, poses a serious threat to public confidence in elections and democratic institutions.
She cited instances of fabricated reports circulating online, including false claims about the death of the INEC Chairman.
“Today you hear that the INEC Chairman is dead on social media. Tomorrow you hear another false story that did not emanate from the Commission. Because the world has become global, such information spreads rapidly and can do enormous damage if it is not properly addressed,” she said.
Chibukem said rebuilding public trust remains a top priority for INEC as preparations intensify for the next electoral cycle.
“Our goal is to ensure that every Nigerian is carried along through a transparent process anchored on integrity. Public trust is very key, and the Commission is engaging stakeholders across all levels, including political parties, the media, youth groups and communities down to the local government level,” she stated.
She explained the difference between misinformation and disinformation, noting that while misinformation is shared without intent to deceive, disinformation is deliberately created to manipulate public opinion, incite unrest or undermine democratic institutions.
According to her, electoral violence rarely begins with physical attacks.
“Violence does not just start with violence. It begins with misinformation, fake news, hate speech, inducement, vote buying and several other triggers that create tension before escalating into violence,” she said.
“Do not start peacebuilding on election day. The most effective peace plan begins at the primaries and continues beyond the declaration of election results.”_
– Mrs. Esther Chibukem, INEC
The INEC official said the engagement was aimed at equipping stakeholders with skills to identify early warning signs of electoral violence and to strengthen collaboration among security agencies, the media, civil society and political parties.
She listed the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, peace accords, CSOs and the media as key institutions in preventing election-related violence.
Chibukem recounted her personal ordeal as a presiding officer in Kogi State, where she was abducted by armed political thugs and forced to thumbprint ballot papers at gunpoint.
She also lamented the recruitment of young people for electoral violence for as little as ₦5,000 and a loaf of bread.
She identified vote buying, political thuggery, hate speech, weak internal party democracy and impunity as major drivers of election conflict, and urged political parties to strengthen internal democracy.
Regional Representative of UNESCO’s Sahel Office, Dimitri Sanga, said Nigeria’s young population is central to shaping democratic discourse in the digital era. He described media and information literacy as an essential 21st-century skill to counter AI-generated manipulations and hate speech.
“The integrity of elections depends not only on institutions but also on the quality of information citizens share and consume,” Sanga said.
Director of IMILI, Dr. Sharon Omotosho, said the institute, UNESCO’s first Category 2 International Media and Information Literacy Institute globally, will equip participants to monitor information, verify content and train others ahead of the polls.
She urged media professionals, political actors and digital content creators to use their platforms to promote peaceful participation before, during and after elections.
