The Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition (NFC) has launched an initiative to safeguard the integrity of the upcoming Edo state governorship election, scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024.
With situation rooms established in both Abuja and Lagos, the coalition is poised to tackle the spread of false information that could potentially derail the democratic process.
Opeyemi Kehinde, NFC Coordinator and editor at FactCheckHub, emphasized the coalition’s commitment to combating misinformation.
“Just as we did during the general elections, our team is ready to fact check false information that could potentially influence the election,” Kehinde stated.
He further added, “The fact-checking organisations in the coalition are collapsing all their staff for the Edo election operation to ensure that Nigerians and most especially Edo residents make informed decisions from accurate information only during the election.”
The NFC, established in June 2022, brings together a formidable array of fact-checking organizations and media outlets. Its members include International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) signatories Africa Check, FactCheckHub, and Dubawa, alongside other respected entities such as the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD).
David Ajikobi, Nigeria Editor of Africa Check, highlighted the critical nature of their work: “Elections provide the opportunity for the electorate to make important decisions that have real-life consequences. Voters should have accurate information about the candidates, parties, and the electoral process to help them make informed choices.”
The coalition’s approach involves monitoring, fact-checking, and debunking misinformation across various platforms. Their efforts aim to prevent the incitement of violence, reduce voter apathy, and maintain trust in the electoral process.
Kemi Busari, Dubawa Nigeria Editor, underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in combating election-related misinformation.
“This level of disinformation requires coordinated efforts to combat hence the need for collaborations such as this under the umbrella of the coalition,” Busari explained.
The NFC’s stance comes in response to concerns raised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the spread of false information ahead of the Edo election.
The coalition’s work extends beyond this single event, with plans already in place to monitor the upcoming off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State in November 2024.
