SIDEC vows to battle fake news, voter apathy in Anambra, Imo
By Chinedum Treasure
Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC) has expressed its readiness to partner Anambra State Ministry of Information towards combating fake news, misinformation and disinformation ahead of November gubernatorial election.
The agreement reached during an advocacy visit by SIDEC to the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, also seeks to ensure at least 25% voter turnout in the forthcoming election.
The partnership is under the Inclusive Mobilization for Participation, Advocacy, and Civic Transformation (IMPACT) Project, implemented by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in partnership with SIDEC and funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Project IMPACT is designed to increase the participation of women, youth and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in governance in Anambra and Imo States.
SIDEC Executive Director, Ugochi Ehiahuruike explained that Project IMPACT seeks to counter disinformation ahead of the polls while also strengthening inclusive civic participation.
She lamented that the 2021 gubernatorial election recorded only 10% turnout, underscoring voter apathy.
According to her, disinformation, misinformation and fake news pose significant threats to electoral integrity and citizen participation.
“Project IMPACT targets 15 structured markets in Anambra, leveraging grassroots engagement, digital mobilization, voter education, and counter-disinformation strategies,” she noted.
She also emphasized the project’s push for the Special Seats Bill to enhance women’s participation.
“We currently have only two women out of thirty seats in the state assembly, and just one female local government chairperson out of twenty-one. At the market level, no woman serves as a market leader,” she said.
Responding, Commissioner Mefor decried growing dangers of fake news, insisting that the menace must be confronted with the seriousness it deserves.
“We have been treating fake news with kid gloves. We should go after the purveyors. They are as bad and dangerous as kidnappers, armed robbers, cultists, yahoo plus.
“To understand the ill of fake news, you need to know why lying is considered both a moral sin and a crime. It alters reality and leads to very serious miscalculations and decisions that can even end mankind.
“For me, purveyors of fake news should be dragged to court and made to face the consequences.”
He pledged his ministry’s readiness to partner SIDEC in implementing Project IMPACT.
“The Ministry of Information and Public Enlightenment has a two-pronged mandate: information dissemination and public enlightenment.
“It has always been our prayer to find worthy partners. One thing is sure—we have accepted your request and we will do our best for it to succeed,” Mefor assured.
The Commissioner acknowledged persistent apathy of Anambra’s business-oriented citizens toward elections and described SIDEC’s target of 25% voter turnout as realistic.
“Most eligible voters in Anambra don't participate in elections. I don't know whether it is an aftermath of the Biafra civil war. Our people believe that government is for them,” he said.
He also recalled the insecurity that disrupted the 2021 polls but noted improvements since then.
“There has been a very radical and remarkable restoration of security. It is not yet uhuru, but nobody can deny the improvement.
“We will work together to ensure that purveyors of fake news don’t thrive against our collective interest.”
