INEC, Stakeholders Join Regional Dialogue On Protecting Elections In Digital Age

Thursday 28th August 2025

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restated its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process against the threats of misinformation and disinformation. This came as the Commission’s delegation actively participated in a two-day regional workshop on “Protecting Elections in the Information Environment,” held in Abuja from August 27–28, 2025.

The high-level forum, convened by International IDEA, in partnership with the African Union (AU) and the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC), with support from the EU-funded SPEC project, drew together electoral stakeholders from across the continent to deliberate on strategies for countering information manipulation, cyber threats, and reputational attacks that increasingly distort democratic processes.

The INEC delegation, led by Hajia Aminetu shiaka, an Assistant Director in the Commission’s ICT Department, also included Makanjuola Taiwo, Patience George, and Otu Fidelia Udumma. The team made contributions to the debate, reflecting Nigeria’s experience and the Commission’s evolving approach to the challenges of the digital information environment.

Hajia Shiaka spoke extensively on the intersection between technology and electoral processes, stressing the need for robust measures to protect election information systems from manipulation. Makanjuola Taiwo drew attention to the activities of malign actors who deliberately push false narratives before, during, and after elections, citing Nigeria’s past experiences as cautionary lessons.

For her part, Patience George argued that Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) must be proactive in tackling disinformation, highlighting INEC’s collaboration with critical stakeholders to secure the electoral information space. Fidelia Udumma underscored the urgency of building public trust, warning that the battleground has shifted from the polling units to the unregulated domain of social media—where misinformation can inflame tensions, distort perceptions, and undermine confidence in democratic institutions.

Participants at the workshop agreed that regional cooperation is indispensable, as the threats to electoral integrity are increasingly transnational.

INEC’s delegation reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to adopt innovative strategies to strengthen electoral resilience, transparency, and trust while aligning with efforts to protect democracy in the digital age. ‎