Help fight fake news before gov poll, Osun REC urges media

Ahead of the August 15 Osun Governorship poll, the Independent National Electoral Commission in Osun State, has sought the cooperation of the media in debunking fake news. This was disclosed by the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Oluwatoyin Babalola in Osogbo on Tuesday, while speaking at an event tagged, “The journalists-INEC voter education and publicity dialogue on the 2026 Osun State governorship election,” organised by the EU-SDGN in collaboration with INEC headquarters. Babalola, who emphasised the key role media has to play in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process, urged the practitioners to serve as gatekeepers of truth, asking them to verify information before dissemination and counter falsehoods with factual reporting. “As we move closer to this important date, the role of the media as a partner in voter education, information dissemination, and public enlightenment cannot be over-emphasized. “One of the greatest threats to credible elections in this digital age is the spread of disinformation and misinformation. False narratives, fake results, doctored videos, and malicious propaganda have the capacity to undermine public confidence in the electoral process, incite violence, and delegitimize outcomes. “We must therefore work together to build a robust defence against these threats. The media must serve as gatekeepers of truth, verifying information before dissemination and countering falsehoods with factual reporting,” Babalola said. Related News Crowds besiege Jigawa LG over fake N75,000 COVID-19 grant Police debunk bandit attack rumours in Ogun, say state safe Voter database leak: Atiku demands answers from INEC She expressed INEC’s commitment to providing timely, accurate, and verifiable information through our official channels, saying journalists must rely on these official platforms and actively collaborate with the Commission in debunking fake news. She added that the event provided an excellent platform for INEC and media executives in the state to develop creative, culturally-sensitive, and accessible voter education materials and strategies that speak to the residents in languages and formats they can easily understand. Earlier, the Executive Director, Centre for Media and Society, Dr Akin Akingbulu, charged media practitioners to fulfill one of its core mandate by educating the populace on their roles before and after the poll. Akingbulu also identified important role the media must play in monitoring campaign promises and reception of the campaign messages by the populace, as well as, the INEC’s p