Prof. Attahiru Jega, former
Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has charged the
Federal Government to proffer stiffer laws against declaration of fake election
results.
Jega made the call on Wednesday
in Abuja at an international conference with “Democracy and Disinformation: How
Fake News Threatens our Freedom and Democracy in Nigeria” as theme.
He said that the issue of fake
news had become a threat to Nigeria’s democracy and should be immediately
curbed.
“The declaration of results and
fake news on the social media is being done with impunity in our country.
“We need to review some of the
regulations to make stiffer rules for implementation to curb this act”, NAN
quoted him as saying.
Jega added that with the 2019
general elections around the corner, there was need to act fast to curtail the
spread of fake news.
Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood
Yakubu, said that the commission was battling with the issue of fake news.
Represented by Prof. Okechukwu
Ibeanu, a National Commissioner in the commission, Yakubu said that INEC
engaged in voter education to sensitise the electorate to its operations.
On the attitude of some political
parties towards the commission, he said “it is funny how political parties
fluctuate in praising INEC; most times, it depends of how they win.
“If parties win elections, they
will praise INEC claiming it conducted the best election ever.
“It will amaze you to know that
the same political party that praised INEC in 2015 because it won is the same
party condemning it now.’’
He promised that INEC would keep
embarking on rigorous electorate sensitisation to enable them know their rights
and protect them from hazards of fake news.
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