They warned that the spread of false information and hate speech could trigger electoral violence and undermine the credibility of the poll.
Some stakeholders in the forthcoming Osun State governorship election have called for the responsible use of social media and heightened public vigilance against misinformation ahead of the August 15 Osun State poll.
They warned that the spread of false information and hate speech could trigger electoral violence and undermine the credibility of the poll.
The call was made on Thursday at a one-day Policy Dialogue on Electoral Offences, Peaceful Elections, Responsible Use of Social Media and Consequence Management, organised by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) in collaboration with the Digital Africa Research and Safety Lab (DigiAfricaLab) in Osogbo, Osun State.
The dialogue brought together representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigeria Police Force, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), civil society organisations, academia, the media, traditional and religious leaders, and digital influencers to examine emerging electoral risks and identify practical measures for ensuring a peaceful, credible and inclusive governorship election.
