The media and citizens have been urged to guard against disinformation and misinformation capable of misleading members of the public.
Addressing a news conference in Abuja ahead of Saturday’s elections, the Chair of a Civil Society Group, Safeguarding Online Civic Space (SOCS), Dr Funmi Akinyele said messages ought to be independently verified before they are shared on both offline and digital spaces.
According to Dr Akinyele, the media and other partners must upscale their efforts by educating the populace against misinformation, especially when counting of ballots and announcements of results are at the peak.
Another member of the group, Abdulsalam Badamosi, said the integrity of the electoral process should be upheld, adding that stakeholders must be held to account on the accuracy of what they churn out before, during and after elections.
Mr Badamosi urged the public to protect the online civil space against any form of social and political harassment.
Reporting by Friday Emanuel; Editing by Abdullahi Lamino and Tony Okerafor, Julian Osamoto