Misinformation, vote buying threaten credible polls — INEC, KDI, NOA

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

The Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr Mutiu Agboke, has identified misinformation, vote buying and electoral violence as key challenges threatening credible elections in the country.

Agboke made the remarks in Osogbo at a programme organised by Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), tagged Osun DemTalks, which brought together youths, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and other stakeholders to discuss citizen participation in the electoral process.

He noted that misinformation and disinformation could undermine the electoral process, warning that anyone involved would face prosecution.

He urged youths to be pragmatic rather than merely critical, and not to allow anyone to discourage them with narratives suggesting their votes do not count, stressing the need to support INEC strategically to achieve desired results.

According to him, election activities extend beyond voting day, emphasising that the process does not effectively end until collation commences — a stage he described as critical to electoral credibility.

Also speaking, the KDI Team Leader, Bukola Idowu, said misinformation and disinformation were major obstacles to free and fair elections, as well as catalysts for electoral violence.

“Our research and analysis have shown that in the coming elections — both the state elections in Ekiti and Osun, the general elections, and about 14 other elections across Africa — one of the major issues stakeholders will face is misinformation and disinformation, often amplified by artificial intelligence,” he said.

In a goodwill message, the Deputy Director, Civic Values and Democracy Education, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Osun Directorate, Mr Adeyemi Afolabi, urged Osun youths to reject vote buying, resist misinformation and avoid violence, emphasising that leadership choices directly affect education, jobs and livelihoods.