Ahead of the November 8 Anambra governorship election, the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II) is equipping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra State to establish a fact-checking unit to combat misinformation and disinformation.
The establishment of the unit is the expected outcome of an ongoing two-day training on digital literacy and fact-checking organised by the programme for officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The two-day training, which is held in Asaba, Delta State, was designed to equip the electoral umpire with the technical know-how to combat misinformation and disinformation, as well as to strategically communicate the commission’s position on issues of public interest.
The training draws 15 participants from INEC’s Voter Education and Publicity (VEP) unit in Anambra State, including the Resident Electoral Commissioner. It was organised by two of the programme’s implementing partners – International Press Centre (IPC) and DAI.
According to EU-SDGN, the Anambra engagement builds on lessons from Ondo State, where a similar programme helped improve INEC’s internal capacity to manage information during elections.
Programme Manager at the International Press Centre, Stella Nwofia, speaking for the organisers highlighted the importance of preparing INEC to effectively counter false narratives. “The basis for this training is to equip INEC staff with the requisite tools for fact-checking the Anambra election. We expect that at the end of this training, fact-checking units will be established, and their social media platforms will be improved in countering disinformation and repairing messages,” she said.
Nwofia added that the partnership reflects a commitment to enhancing institutional resilience. “By strengthening internal mechanisms for truth verification and strategic communication, INEC will be better positioned to protect the integrity of the process and sustain public trust throughout the election cycle,” she noted.
For many participants, the training offered practical insights. Dr Queen Elizabeth Agwu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra State, described it as an eye-opener. “Today, I learnt that when information is hacked, I can actually get it back, verify it, know how to use it, and know how to debunk it. All these, I learnt today. I say thank you so much to the European Union,” she said.
The EU-SDGN programme is part of the European Union’s broader commitment to promoting credible, transparent, and inclusive elections in Nigeria. With the Anambra governorship election approaching, the initiative is expected to contribute to more effective communication, timely correction of falsehoods, and improved public confidence in the electoral process.
