The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reiterated its commitment to protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process from the growing threats of misinformation, disinformation, and cyber manipulation.
This assurance came as the Commission participated in a two-day regional workshop on “Protecting Elections in the Information Environment” held in Abuja from August 27–28, 2025.
The high-level forum was convened by International IDEA in partnership with the African Union (AU) and the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC), with support from the EU-funded Supporting the Promotion of Electoral Credibility and Transparency (SPEC) project. It brought together electoral stakeholders from across Africa to deliberate on strategies to counter false narratives, cyber threats, and reputational attacks that undermine democratic processes.
INEC’s delegation to the event was led by Hajia Aminetu Shiaka, an Assistant Director in the Commission’s ICT Department, alongside Makanjuola Taiwo, Patience George, and Otu Fidelia Udumma. The team actively contributed to the discussions, drawing from Nigeria’s experience and highlighting the Commission’s evolving strategies for managing challenges in the digital information environment.
Speaking at the forum, Hajia Shiaka stressed the importance of safeguarding election technologies and information systems against manipulation, warning that electoral credibility depends on robust protective measures.
Similarly, Makanjuola Taiwo drew attention to the tactics of malign actors who deliberately spread falsehoods before, during, and after elections. He cited past Nigerian electoral experiences as lessons on the dangers of unchecked information warfare.
Patience George emphasized the need for Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) across Africa to adopt proactive measures in addressing disinformation. She highlighted INEC’s ongoing collaborations with stakeholders in securing the electoral information space.
On her part, Fidelia Udumma underscored the urgency of restoring and sustaining public trust in democratic institutions. She warned that the new battleground for elections is no longer at polling units but within the unregulated space of social media, where misinformation can inflame tensions, distort perceptions, and erode confidence in the electoral system.
Participants at the workshop unanimously agreed that regional cooperation is indispensable, given that threats to electoral integrity are increasingly transnational in nature.
At the close of deliberations, INEC reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to embrace innovative approaches that strengthen electoral resilience, promote transparency, and build citizens’ trust in the democratic process, in alignment with continental and global efforts to safeguard democracy in the digital age.