The build up to the election itself has exposed subtle forms of gendered disinformation, which have to be meticulously analysed. Notwithstanding the fact that the participation of women as candidates in the September 21, 2024 Edo State governorship election has been low, the attempts to undermine women’s participation have remained rife. From verbal attacks to misogynistic remarks, some political actors in the already men-dominated political terrain have been having a field day hurling abuses and insults at women trying to get their voices heard in the political process, even if from a disadvantaged position.
This information assessment documented one of such moments of gendered disinformation in the exchange between former Governor (now Senator) Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole and the wife of the Edo State Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki. Oshiomhole sparked outrage after describing the Edo State First Lady as being childless. Describing a woman as childless in the Nigerian and African cultural
context is pejorative, and suggests the woman should not be involved in the political process, but rather should be at home trying to find solution to the alleged lack of children. Given the cultural sensitivity of the issue, former Governor’s controversial statement has sparked moral outrage, resulting in protests by women’s groups, which have widely condemned the statement as an affront to the dignity of women.
Similarly, female political figures, especially those in leadership positions, have been targeted with narratives aimed at undermining their credibility. An instance is the viral claim, which again focused on the Edo governor’s wife, Betsy Obaseki, where she was said to be involved in the sale of prepaid meters, a legal initiative confirmed to be true, but negatively framed to question her integrity and motives as a woman in power. This pattern comes across as a deliberate attempt to discourage women’s participation in politics and leadership, reinforcing harmful gender stereotypes, constraining entry into the space, and continuing the domination of the political space by men to the detriment of women.
During key informant interviews and focus group discussions conducted for this assessment, women’s groups expressed concerns about how the Constitution to adequately reference or represent women. These groups believe that the marginalization of women has been institutionalized, as the Constitution appears to view citizens primarily through a masculine lens. Respondents further emphasized that gendered disinformation is perpetuated by societal practices rooted in religion, tradition, and economic circumstances.
Many participants argued that cultural norms reinforce the exclusion of women, keeping them on the side-lines of the political process when they should be actively contesting and participating in mainstream efforts to access political power. For key informants who responded from civil society organizations, one of the issues highlighted was the gendered aspects of disinformation, particularly how it marginalises women in politics. It was stressed that like in many parts of Nigeria, patriarchal structures limit women’s political participation. CSOs therefore emphasised the need for mentoring and empowering young women to take on leadership roles. One of the CSO respondents, was of the view that while internet access has improved, particularly among youth, it has also facilitated the spread of trivial and misleading information targeting women.
She said: Representation in the State House of Assembly is also sparse, with only a few women present. The only area where women are somewhat represented is in government appointments, where they occupy some positions. However, in rural communities, women are typically relegated to roles like women leaders or dancers—positions with no real power.
She added that women were often seen as passive recipients, waiting for small monetary handouts and accepting whatever policies were handed down to them. She stated that certain misinformation about women’s leadership was common, adding that community leaders in rural areas often believe that educating women politically will lead to the breakdown of families.
She asserted that tradition, religion, and economic background among other factors had contributed to the stereotypes that women faced.
Identity in the Information Ecosystem
This information ecosystem assessment also collected data showing how identity-based narratives were also employed to target political actors. This is being done in ways that resonate with regional biases. False claims made by one of the governorship aspirants about the lack of health and educational facilities in Orhionmwon LGA were used to suggest that the government in power neglected certain parts of the State, despite evidence to the contrary.
These exaggerated narratives sought to influence the perception of the electorate and portray the government as failing to deliver essential services. Another trend involved claims aimed at undermining the credibility of the electoral body and processes. A widely circulated report suggested that over 4,000 BVAS machines, critical for the voting exercise, had been damaged by flooding. Although the claim was true, its spread was likely aimed to instil doubt in the preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), potentially undermining voter confidence. CDD West Africa tracked narratives wherein those spreading disinformation focused on distorting the achievements of political candidates. For example, a claim circulated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Monday Okpebholo, had not sponsored any bills during his time in the Senate.
This false claim was aimed at discrediting his legislative contributions and presenting him as ineffective, a common tactic used to undermine candidates’ qualifications and competence to govern. Similarly, the false claim that Asue Ighodalo had been disqualified as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate was likely intended to create confusion among voters and weaken his campaign. In addition, the thin line between disinformation and legitimate policy critiques was observed in the course of the assessment.
There was the debate around economic issues, with the narrative that Edo State’s debt profile had soared to an unsustainable level, positioning the state as the third most indebted in Nigeria. Although accurate in terms of debt figures, state media were quick to counter the critique by stating that the framing was designed to provoke concerns over the state’s financial future.
Disinformation And Its Effects On Political Parties
This information assessment also took due cognisance of how information manipulation affects political parties. In the crowded political space, where the major political parties hold a dominance over others looking to get their voices heard and compete for votes, information manipulation has become a tool of choice for the bigger parties. Although the team could not get the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to weigh in on the issues, the perspective of the Labour party was nonetheless instructive.
The party provided insights on its experiences on the Edo political terrain and how political parties with no access to state resources at the state and federal level cope in the face of the challenge of information manipulation.
The LP Secretary in Edo State acknowledged the significant challenge disinformation poses, and the constraints within political parties in tackling the challenge or debunking narratives, which seek to undermine their participation in the process through the spread of politically harmful narratives. The party stated that the unpredictable nature of political narratives means that false information can spread easily and rapidly, especially with the advent of social media. Using practical experiences faced by the LP as a template for assessing the situation, the LP Secretary stated that during thelast election, opposition forces sent misleading broadcast text messages to voters,falsely claiming that their (LP) candidate had stepped down. This act, it was noted,disrupted the candidate’s chances in the election process, as it occurred just a fewhours beforevoting, making it impossible to debunk the false information in good time.
When asked about the primary sources of disinformation, the Labour Party mentioned that political parties were major culprits, often using media outlets stools. Also worthy of note is the point about the existence of factions within media organisations, such as those aligned with the Labour Party, APC, or PDP. This was highlighted as a normal occurrence, and was validated by the lack of consensus on basic issues by various branches of the media during the Focus
Group Discussion
(FGD). Within the parties too, there are internal divisions. In Edo State, there are claims that the Labour Party is divided into three factions. Although those claims have been firmly denied by the party, other factions or individuals are apparently aggrieved over party nominations or primary election processes.
There have also been concerns about the role of social media influencers who engage in discussing politics, and because they support specific candidates, they take on the roles of unofficial spokespersons of their chosen candidates. Such confusion often arises from individuals who are not party officials, but support specific figures within the party like Peter Obi. According to the Secretary: “Some civil servants who previously supported Obi have since returned to their original parties, and have fuelled these misconceptions. They are not card-bearing members, and they don’t even know anything about the party.”
Addressing the issue of hate speech and disinformation targeted at women, an incident in Akoko-Edo was cited where a woman was attacked within the party by aggrieved members. However, external attacks were noted to be uncommon.
On the other hand, INEC was criticized for allegedly misleading followers by not enforcing the necessity of obtaining tax clearance for candidates.
The party emphasised its efforts through a dedicated media team that works tirelessly to disseminate accurate information. The discussion concluded with a call for stronger legislation to tackle misinformation, emphasising that the legislative branch has a crucial role in addressing the issue. The need for repercussions for spreading false information was highlighted, alongside concerns about the judiciary’s role in allowing facts to be twisted, leading to a culture of impunity.