Oluwafemi Osho January 31, 2023
Disclaimer: The purpose of this piece is not to support or discredit any political entity or individual. The objective is to emphasize the dangers of mis/disinformation in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
When it comes to potential threats to the upcoming 2023 general elections, insecurity is arguably the primary concern. The absence of security can hinder the holding of the polls. But, following close behind insecurity, misinformation and disinformation pose significant dangers that must also be monitored and addressed.
On July 2, 2022, Tunde (not his real name), a very close friend of mine, shared an image in a WhatsApp group I was part of. A portion of the image depicted an outdated picture of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the APC. The remaining part consisted of the following description: “Yekini Amoda Ogunlere alias ‘Bobo Chicago’ from Osun State, now Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Lagos State. Guyman changed his name after he was convicted 7 yrs for drugs trafficking. Now some lazy Nigerians want him in Aso Rock. FAKE NAME. FAKE AGE. FAKE STATE OF ORIGIN. FAKE EDUCATION. SOURCE OF WEALTH UNKNOWN. UNA MUMU NEVER DOOO. THE JAZZ STRONG OOO.” I noticed the message had been forwarded many times.
I took the initiative to privately caution him against disseminating unverified information. His reply, received close to midnight, was tinged with sarcasm: “Noted sir.” The following day, at 12.58 am, he sent me a tirade: “Osho Oluwa Femi I can tell you authoritatively that Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not graduate from Chicago State University.” He quickly added, “quote me anywhere.” To bolster his argument, he shared a Wikipedia page that listed notable individuals affiliated with Chicago State University. His persistent ignorance left me dumbfounded. This was someone with a Ph.D. degree; I felt he should know better. I attempted to counteract the misinformation by providing him with credible sources, but I doubted that my efforts penetrated his ignorance skin.
I understand that Tunde’s motive was to ‘enlighten’ the WhatsApp group members against going for the ‘wrong candidate’ in the forthcoming election. However noble his intention was, using unverified information is never tenable. Many Nigerians are like my friend. Plagued by low information literacy, they are highly prone to spreading misinformation. Once they receive a piece of information, they are quick to share it with their networks without fact-checking. And with the general elections approaching, coupled with vested interests in particular candidates, the temptation to spread unverified information is higher than ever.
While most people often propagate false information unintentionally, a few entities with mischievous motives spread disinformation–inaccurate and misleading information shared with the intent to deceive or manipulate others. Nigeria witnessed the nefarious activities of disinformation campaigners during the 2019 general elections. There have already been reports of political parties resorting to paying social media influencers to disseminate disinformation in the run-up to the upcoming general elections, slated to take place in the coming month. Politicians are weaponizing disinformation to malign political opponents and gain an unfair advantage.
Propagators of misinformation and disinformation frequently take advantage of social media platforms as a means of dissemination. However, the platforms themselves may be culpable. Social media algorithms are designed to maximize engagement and maximize user engagement on the platform. However, this often amplifies mis/disinformation, as false or misleading information tends to generate more engagement in the form of clicks, shares, and comments.
Misinformation and disinformation, being crafty persuasion techniques and forms of manipulation, can have devastating effects on the integrity of the upcoming general elections. If allowed to persist, both can irreparably compromise the legitimacy of the election outcomes and sway voters to make ill-informed decisions, supporting candidates they would not have otherwise. This is a clear violation of fair play and can corrupt the election process and tilt the balance of power in favor of the unscrupulous. Moreover, the widespread dissemination of false information may erode public trust in the electoral process and the democratic system itself, resulting in long-lasting, adverse effects on the nation's political landscape.
Considering their possible impacts on the integrity of the forthcoming and future elections, various efforts are needed to tackle mis/disinformation. The government needs to establish and partner with trusted sources to provide fact-checks specific to the forthcoming elections. It is pertinent that false and misleading information and fake news are debunked before malicious actors circulate them. One option is to deploy election-related rapid response cyber units to work with social media platforms to disable accounts that spread disinformation.
Social media platforms must be held accountable to implement rigorous fact-checking mechanisms, reduce fake news visibility, and promote accurate information. We also need to develop strategies to mitigate the ability of state and non-state actors to spread mis/disinformation.
Some other holistic solutions, albeit long-term, involve media literacy and community engagement. We must teach the public how to identify and counter fake news and find and use trusted sources for factual information. The government must integrate these media literacy skills into the school curriculum.
Nigeria is facing rising divisions along religious and ethnic lines. Election-related misinformation only adds to this problem, as fake news and false information that reinforces pre-existing political, social, or cultural cleavages can further polarize the electorate. Hence, to maintain a stable society and prevent heightened tensions, it is essential to take steps to stop the spread of such misinformation.
A free and fair election is characterized by the absence of overt or covert manipulation of the voting public. Consequently, in preparation for the general elections, due attention must be given to suppressing the dissemination of misinformation and disinformation related to the elections. This is critical to maintaining the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring the validity of the election's outcome. The government and relevant electoral bodies at all levels must take proactive steps to address the issue of mis/disinformation and foster a transparent and credible electoral environment.