OSOGBO, Nigeria — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and civil society organisations have warned that the spread of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech could threaten the credibility of the forthcoming Osun State governorship election and trigger electoral violence if not addressed.
The warning was issued on Thursday during a one-day policy dialogue on electoral offences, peaceful elections, responsible use of social media and consequence management held in Osogbo ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The event was organised by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) in collaboration with the Digital Africa Research and Safety Lab (DigiAfricaLab). It brought together representatives of INEC, the Nigeria Police Force, the National Orientation Agency, civil society organisations, academia, the media, traditional rulers, religious leaders and digital influencers.
Participants examined emerging electoral risks associated with online misinformation and discussed practical measures aimed at ensuring a peaceful, credible and inclusive election.
Speaking at the dialogue, Osun State Director of the National Orientation Agency, Adebiyi Stephen Adefarasin, urged residents to verify information before sharing it on social media and called on citizens to make the election a model of peaceful democratic participation.
He said social media remains a powerful tool for civic engagement and information sharing but warned that it must not be used to spread misinformation, disinformation, hate speech or other harmful content capable of undermining democratic processes.
“As we prepare for the forthcoming off-season governorship election in Osun State and look ahead to the nationwide general elections in 2027, I urge all Nigerians, particularly young people, media practitioners, civil society organisations, political actors and digital content creators, to embrace the principles of fact-checking, responsible communication, tolerance and respect for differing opinions,” he said.
Adefarasin added that peaceful elections are built on the foundation of informed and responsible citizens and stressed that the agency would continue working with stakeholders to promote digital responsibility and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
In his welcome address, PAACA Executive Director Ezenwa Nwagwu said many Nigerians remain unaware of the legal consequences of electoral offences, including the buying and selling of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), which he described as criminal acts punishable under Nigerian law.
“We need to centralise conversations around electoral offences, peaceful elections, responsible use of social media and consequence management so that different stakeholders can understand what is right,” Nwagwu said, warning that electoral violence often begins with inflammatory rhetoric and the circulation of false information.
Founder and Executive Director of DigiAfricaLab, Rosemary Ajayi, said digital threats have evolved beyond misinformation to include fake social media accounts, impersonation and coordinated online manipulation designed to erode public trust in elections.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Adetunji Ogunyemi of the Department of History and International Relations at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said peaceful elections remain the bedrock of democratic legitimacy and require the collective commitment of electoral institutions, security agencies, political actors, the media, civil society organisations and citizens.
He urged political parties and candidates to embrace democratic values by accepting election outcomes and pursuing grievances through lawful channels rather than attempting to delegitimise the electoral process.
Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner Oluwatoyin Babalola reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, transparent and inclusive governorship election and assured stakeholders that the commission would continue collaborating with security agencies and civil society organisations to strengthen public confidence.
She also urged citizens to rely on official channels for election-related updates and avoid sharing unverified reports capable of creating unnecessary tension.
At the end of the meeting, participants issued a communiqué warning that the irresponsible use of social media, including the spread of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech, poses a direct threat to public confidence in elections and could escalate into real-world violence.
They resolved to reject electoral violence, vote-buying, voter intimidation, hate speech and misinformation before, during and after the governorship election, while urging citizens, political parties, media organisations and digital influencers to verify information before sharing it online.
