By Calabarblog

The Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for an end to misleading information and fake news as the 2023 general election gathers momentum.

The commission’s National Commissioner, Information and Voters Education, Festus Okoye in a public lecture on the topic ‘political disinformation causing the spread of violence through the use of the media’ held in Transcorp Hotel, Calabar to mark Sparkling 92.3 FM four years anniversary, said the media, is the critical component of the society, has the key to make informed choices, responsibilities of awakening the masses consciousness, and bringing about societal cohesion.

He however bemoaned the misinformation against INEC, elections and voters registration especially in the new media, positing that citizen journalism has changed the context of the media and there should be a form of regulation of citizen journalism.

Barr. Festus opined, political misinformation is the grandmother of disorder and fake news especially with the use of social media adding that misinformation in present day society has led to specter of political violence where politicians and supporters misconstrue facts for selfish interest.

He sued media practitioners to be knowledgeable enough to know everything; not only identifying misinformation but also to authenticate information that comes to it especially pertaining to INEC and elections.

He charged the citizens to go get registered and obtain their Permanent Voters Cards, vote and protect their votes as elections are not held on social media.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has warned broadcast stations of unethical conducts.

The State Coordinator of NBC, Mr. Peter Omamogho, while speaking, said as political activities in the country muscles up, it is important for broadcast stations to adhere strictly to the commission’s code of conduct.

Peter disclosed that the broadcasting body is geared to sanitize the air wave in this political festivity and any station which defaults to its rules and regulations will have no option than to “help the commission pay fines” that will follow.

Giving a pep talk at the event, the national president, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Solomon Adodo called on youths never allow themselves to be used for political thuggery, ferment violence among other vices by politicians.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the event, the General Manager of Sparkling Frequency Modulation (FM), Mr. Joshua Moses thanked God for the success of the event.

Moses said attaining four years of broadcasting is laudable and looks forward to great improvements.

The event which was highly interactive with panel discussion by Dr. Macfarlane Ejah and Mr. Jonathan Ugbal also witnessed the cutting of the anniversary cake and group photographs.

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