The International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) have trained electoral officials on tackling misinformation, AI-generated deepfakes and communication challenges that could undermine public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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The two organisations organised a two-day capacity-building programme for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials in the South-West, focusing on electoral trust, effective communication, legal literacy and voter engagement.
The training, held from October 15 to 16 at Golden Tulip Hotel, Ibadan, Oyo State, was designed to strengthen the ability of INEC’s Voter Education and Publicity (VEP) officials to communicate electoral information and respond to false narratives.
Speaking at the programme, INEC Deputy Director of Information and Publicity, Wilfred Ifogah, warned that the spread of conflicting information made it essential for electoral officials to distinguish verified reports from misleading claims.
He said officials needed accurate information and effective communication skills to explain electoral procedures, address public concerns and prevent misinformation from escalating into electoral crises.
Ifogah also cautioned journalists and members of the public against circulating unverified information, particularly AI-generated content and deepfakes designed to mislead voters.
“Verify before you amplify,” he advised, urging journalists to confirm electoral information through INEC’s official communication channels or designated communication officers before publication.
IPC Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade, said public confidence in elections was shaped long before election day by the quality, accessibility and credibility of information available to citizens.
He warned that false claims and AI-generated media could spread faster than official corrections, making proactive communication, fact-checking and coordinated responses necessary to address emerging threats.
Arogundade said the programme would also address crisis communication, media relations, the 2026 Electoral Act, misinformation risk mapping, conflict-sensitive communication and inclusive voter engagement.
CEMESO Executive Director, Dr Akin Akingbulu, urged INEC’s VEP officials to prioritise clarity, promptness and efficiency in communicating electoral information.
Akingbulu said the initiative would encourage knowledge-sharing among participants and enable them to replicate the training in their respective states and local government areas.
He disclosed that the Ibadan session was the first of four regional engagements, with subsequent programmes scheduled to hold in Jos, Enugu and Kano.
The initiative is funded by the European Union under its Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria programme, Component 4, Support to Media, and implemented jointly by IPC and CEMESO.
The organisers said the programme was aimed at strengthening electoral communication, promoting informed citizen participation and improving public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 elections.
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