By Reportcircle-Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s electoral integrity from the growing threats of misinformation, disinformation, and cyber manipulation.
This pledge came as the Commission’s delegation 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, convened by International IDEA in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC), with support from the EU-funded SPEC project, brought together electoral stakeholders from across Africa.
Discussions centered on countering information manipulation, cyber threats, and reputational attacks that increasingly distort democratic processes.
INEC’s delegation was led by Hajia Aminetu Shiaka, Assistant Director in the Commission’s ICT Department, alongside Makanjuola Taiwo, Patience George, and Otu Fidelia Udumma.
The team made strong interventions, reflecting Nigeria’s experiences and the Commission’s evolving strategies for safeguarding the electoral information space.
Hajia Shiaka stressed the importance of robust security measures for election technologies, warning that electoral systems must be shielded from manipulation.
Makanjuola Taiwo highlighted the activities of malicious actors who push false narratives around elections, drawing lessons from Nigeria’s past experiences.
For her part, Patience George emphasized the need for Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) to be proactive, citing INEC’s ongoing collaboration with stakeholders to secure the information environment.
Meanwhile, Fidelia Udumma warned that “the battleground has shifted from polling units to social media,” where unregulated misinformation can inflame tensions, distort perceptions, and weaken public trust in democratic institutions.
Participants at the workshop agreed that regional cooperation is vital, as the threats to electoral integrity transcend national borders.
INEC’s delegation reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to adopt innovative approaches that build electoral resilience, strengthen transparency, and protect democracy in the digital age.
Dignitaries in attendance included Mr. Serigne Mamadou Ka, Acting Head of the Electoral Assistance Division of ECOWAS and Acting Permanent Secretary of ECONEC; Mr. Ruben Alba, Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS; Ms. Therese Pearce Laanela, Global Head of Electoral Processes, International IDEA; and Mr. Chinedu Chinedu, Senior Programme Officer, ECONEC.
