The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa) and the National Democratic Institute(NDI) on Wednesday commenced a three-day capacity building training for the media and other stakeholders involved in the electoral process on countering disinformation in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
In her welcome address, Director of the CDD West Africa, Idayat Hassan, represented by the centre’sProgramme Officer, Mr David Emefiele, noted that the training became imperative in readiness for the November 11, 2023 off-cycle governorship election in the state.
She averred that there was need for media practitioners and the general public to be abreast with and enlightened on how to identify, manage, as well as avoid the consumption and disemination of fake news so that they would not in turn be misinformed, dis-informed as well as mal-informed in the build up to, during and after the November poll.
Hassan also restated that the training was taking place simultaneously in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States, respectively between the 18th  through 20th October, 2023.
“Disinformation and the weaponisation of fake news in Nigeria, and across the West African sub-region have had serious implications for the credibility of the electoral process.
“Information disorder is similarly threatening the social fabric of multi-ethnic societies across the African continent. The threats posed by fake news, misinformation, and disinformation have also affected historically marginalised groups, especially in terms of their participation in the political process”, she said.
The Director also frowned at the barriers which seemingly were militating against women political participation, saying the barriers have been further accentuated by the dangers posed by fake news, misinformation, and disinformation.
“The gendered dimensions of fake news were on display during the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections, especially in the light of identity-driven violence, which undermined the participation of several groups. Disinformation has been identified as a key driver in some of the reported cases of violence against women participating in the political process, either as voters or candidates.
“While the problem is not new, the ongoing manifestations are particularly challenging, given the scope of the manipulation, the ease with which information can be shared, the diversity of techniques adopted to do so, and the proliferation of actors — individuals, partisan actors, and influencers at the level of the communities.
“Added to this challenging mix is the fact that global tech platforms have a limited regulatory presence in West Africa, with priority placed on politically influential countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire”, Hassan noted.

Meanwhile, a research analyst with the Centre for Democracy and Development, Mr Dengiyefa Angalapu has tasked stakeholders on the need to contribute towards peaceful and credible polls as the state’s gubernatorial election draws closer.

Angalapu maintained that research findings from previous polls in the state were replete with violence in parts of the state, noting also that the centre was afraid that there was the propensity of worsening electoral crisis in the parts of the state with the partitioning in the award of oil pipeline surveillance contracts few weeks ahead of the polls to ex-agitators allegedly loyal to some politicians and political parties.

“If information weren’t professionally and correctly managed, elections in Bayelsa State and elsewhere in the nation could become very violent. This is because recently as the elections draw nearer, the federal government has again awarded oil pipeline surveillance contract to some ex-militant leaders and others allegedly loyal to some politicians and political parties.

“People must watch for fake news before, during and even after the elections. Fake news leads to misinformation and disinformation. It can ignite violence and lead to the loss of lives and properties, it can mar the entire electoral process”, he said.

By: Ariwera Ibibo- Howells, Yenagoa