The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has launched a new shortcode 4623 toward fighting fake news, ahead of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly Election.
Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, said this when he received a donation of Information Technology facilities from Community Life Project (CLP) and the Ford Foundation in Abuja on Thursday.
Okoye said that the short-code was part of INEC Citizens Contact Centre (ICCC) aimed at combating fake news by giving out authentic information to Nigerians.
He appealed to Nigerians to use the short code to get authentic information from the commission.
The national commissioner pledged that INEC would continue to open and make information available to the media and members of the public.
“As it has been pointed out that we have launched a short code 4632 which will enable citizens to contact INEC Citizens contact center in real-time, and they will get response.
“We want to appeal to the media and the citizens to make use of these facilities so that they can get authentic information because we have a lot of misinformation and disinformation all over the place.
“Also, we do not want Nigeria to be confused in relation to electoral processes and electoral procedure,’’ Okoye said.
He commended the CLP and ford foundation for the donation, saying it will enable Nigerians to contact the commission in real time and also get responses in real time.
Okoye said that the IT facilities and gadgets were very important as Nigeria moved closer to the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections, as Information was power and critical in the electoral process.
“There is no doubt that Nigerians testy for information.
“The commission is desirous on making sure that Nigerians get authentic information that will enable them make informed choices in relation to the electoral process and around electoral process and electoral issues.
“This commission does not believe in any form of censorship. The chairman of the commission has reiterated it over and over that the antidote to fake news is openness and transparence.
“So, the commission is up to transparency and providing real information to Nigerians to enable them make informed choices,’’ Okoye said.
