CDD unveils ‘war room’ to tackle misinformation on 2023 polls

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has launched an election war room for tackling misinformation and bad actors ahead of the 2023 elections.

Idayat Hassan, CDD director, announced the development in a statement on Friday.

Hassan said the CDD’s war room will play an important role in making the 2023 elections free, fair and credible.

He added that the CDD will publish weekly reports about the findings on disinformation.

“The Centre for Democracy and Development has unveiled an Election War Room for tackling disinformation, misinformation and the activities of bad actors ahead of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria,” the statement reads.

“Africa’s largest democracy is going into what many hope will be the country’s turning point election. As part of its mandate to help the nation deliver free, fair and credible elections, CDD’s Election War Room will play an important role in making this election free from the narrative influence of bad actors.

“On a weekly basis, our team of detailed, vibrant, and tech-savvy youths will publish a brief about our findings within the disinformation and fact-checking ecosystem in Nigeria.

“The team already monitors all political players, news organisations, security agencies, fact-checkers, electoral umpire and all other stakeholders.

“Our weekly briefs will arm Nigerians with verifiable information on possible points of misinformation and disinformation provide insight into controversial and contentious issues; and prepare citizens for expected waves of disinformation within the political arena.

“Why is this important? In the 2019 election, disinformation spread across northern Nigeria claiming a coalition formed by the LGBTQ community in Nigeria had endorsed Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for president.

“In the same election year, doctored images were shared across social media alongside claims that Muhammadu Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had died and was replaced by a body double infamously known as Jibril of Sudan. With the benefit of hindsight, both claims were false.

“For the 2023 elections, CDD Election War Room will deal with such disinformation by  highlighting seeders and bad actors who begin and drive such narratives across the major social media platforms.

“The team will also produce prebunks to act as fact shields against misinformation ahead of the elections. In this War Room, our goal is simple: to make this the most factual elections in Nigeria’s history.”