KogiDecides2019: Group Alleges Politicians Used Fake News To Discredit INEC

A civic group the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has said that politicians used fake news to discredit the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the electoral process in Kogi state.

The Director of the group Ms Idayat Hassan, disclosed this to newsmen in a press statement issued briefly after the gubernatorial election in Kogi State on Saturday.

She noted that CDD had predicted that politicians would use fake news to delegitimised the governorship poll in bid to cause confusion.

Hassan said “Some of the fake news circulated today include the disqualification of the PDP candidates, false results, fake images of thugs arrested and snatching of ballot papers.

”CDD fact-checkers were able to debunk most of the fake news.

“The hoaxes are mainly intended at delegitimising INEC and the process; again, Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp are the leading platforms used to spread disinformation.“

She also noted that the preliminary statement was an overview of the initial findings on the conduct of the election adding that, political parties used financial inducements in the election.

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Hassan said “In polling unit 001 in Ward 4, Dekina LGA, CDD observers reported sporadic gunfire; violent caused by rival party thugs who battled one other over control of the polling environment.

“These were in Felele and Ganaja areas of Lokoja LGA, especially in Registration Area 08, Oworo, Felele Area, PU 004. In Ankpa 1 Polling Unit (PU) with number 2203-04-0 in Ankpa LGA.“