Lawrence Ndubeze, Awka
The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa) has deployed a team of personnel to counter information manipulation in the build-up to the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State.
The team, comprising stakeholders from different parts of the state, was trained on reporting and tackling the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news using verification tools within the state’s political space.
Speaking at the one-day workshop in Awka, CDD Election Consultant, Mr. Chibuike Mgbeahuruike, noted that information disorder poses a significant threat to elections and democracy. He stated that the team will identify, fact-check, and expose false claims in the run-up to the governorship election.
“This training is for individuals we call ‘soldiers of the mouth,’ aimed at combating misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech that have become characteristic of elections in Nigeria, including Anambra State. Our trainees will be deployed to the election landscape before election day.
“Information manipulation is unhealthy for our democracy, as it causes significant disharmony. These issues were not prevalent when our democracy began in 1999, but they have grown over time. We are monitoring all aspects of the election, including security, media, and disinformation, to ensure misinformation does not impact the process.
“We are preparing our trainees to observe key issues, utilize tools effectively, and identify and dispel disinformation. Our goal with fact-checking is to determine which information to debunk and which to sustain, thereby ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.”
Also speaking, CDD Programs Officer, Chioma Iruke, who led the training sessions, said the team members are the “foot soldiers” responsible for reporting misinformation, disinformation, and mal-information that could be harmful during the election.
The Chairman of the Anambra State Civil Society Network (ASCSNet), Chris Azor, expressed concern over the widespread voter apathy that has characterized past elections in the state. He noted that despite having over two million registered voters, turnout has been dismally low.
Azor said the workshop provided insights into addressing the challenges that discourage people from participating in elections.
One of the trainees, Dr. Okechukwu Onuegbu, said he is now more motivated than ever to contribute his quota to the success of the election.
