Federal Government of Nigeria has cautioned some section of media not to be used to weaponize fake news and disinformation because increasing resort to this is becoming great threat to the success of 2023 general elections.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who disclosed this on Tuesday at the 4th Edition of the “PMB Administration Scorecard 2015-2023 in Abuja, said fake news and disinformation constitute an equally-potent threat, adding that they are capable of hampering the success of the polls.
The Minister cited examples of fake news and disinformation that happened recently on how a letter purportedly from Independent National Electoral Commission INEC was used to cast aspersions on the candidate of ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu.
“Shortly after that, the death of an
innocent man was turned to a political tool to further attack the same APC candidate. Of course there have been other cases similar to the two I have just enumerated”, the Minister said.
Alhaji Mohammed pointed that this is a dangerous development which must be nipped in the bud, adding that If the opposition has suddenly realized that they cannot match the ruling party in a free and fair election, and have thus decided to weaponize fake news and disinformation.
He urged the media not to allow itself to be used for such nefarious purpose. “Since launching national campaign against fake news, disinformation and hate speech, in 2018, our strategy has been to use persuasion and enlightenment, rather than coercion.
“And that was why we partnered with a number of media houses for the campaign. But it would seem as if that is not deterring those who are bent on using these (fake news and disinformation) as tools of destabilization, destruction and distortion”.
The Minister called the media attention to the damage done to elections in other climes by fake news and disinformation. “No government will sit by and allow anyone or any organization to use fake news and disinformation to sow the seeds of discord”.
“We are therefore compelled to warn the purveyors of fake news and disinformation, especially in the rup-up to next year’s elections, to stop forthwith”, Alhaji Mohammed said.
