Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, says hate speech poses threats to the electoral process and democratic values of the country.
Yakubu stated this at the launching of the iVerify project and the unveiling of the iVerify fact-checking platform in Abuja organised by the International Press Centre and supported by the United Nations Development Programme and the Spanish Government,
Yakubu, who was represented by the INEC acting Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Mary Nkem, said hate speech can undermine democratic values, and core principles of democracy, such as respect for human rights, and create tension in the society.
The INEC boss said, “Hate speech undermines democratic values. It undermines the core principles of democracy such as respect for human rights, equality and fair treatment of all individuals.
“Hate speech can perpetrate discrimination and exclusion, contradicting the fundamental value of democratic society.
“It can provoke hostility and aggression, leading to acts of harassment and intimidation and even physical violence in the context of the electoral process. This can disrupt the peaceful conduct of elections.
“The proliferation of hate speech in the electoral process can erode public trust in democratic institutions, including the electoral system, political leadership and the media.”
IPC Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade, said the project aimed to strengthen efforts against fake news, disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech, particularly in the context of electoral and democratic processes.
He said, “The core objective is to establish a technology-driven platform, provide capacity building for journalists in fact-checking electoral information, promote media literacy, and engage in public enlightenment to combat information disorder. Collaboration is key to advocating for a credible environment in information dissemination.”
Senator Ndume
6 hours ago
Court of Appeal relocates Kogi Gov Election Petitions Tribunal to Abuja
Court of Appeal relocates Kogi Gov Election Petitions Tribunal to Abuja
6 hours ago
Subscribe to receive push notifications on latest updates
