By Kelvin Ololo
A three-day intensive training on countering disinformation, fake news, and hate speech in electoral processes has ended with journalists and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) across the South-South region urged to apply the knowledge gained in their communities ahead of the 2027 general elections and beyond.
The workshop, which began on 23 February in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, was organized by Fundación para la Internacionalización de las Administraciones Públicas (FIAP), F.S.P., under the European Union–funded Support to ECOWAS in Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project.
The program was implemented in collaboration with GIZ and co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Participants from Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Edo states took part in detailed sessions led by experts in digital investigations, media development, and governance.
One of the resource persons, Silas Jonathan – Digital Investigations Manager at the Center for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), facilitated sessions on digital investigations, online manipulation tactics, and the psychological, linguistic, and visual techniques used in spreading disinformation and fake news.
He noted that the media plays a powerful role in shaping public opinion during and after elections.
“The media has a greater impact on the psychology of citizens during and after elections; they stand to change and influence their perception positively or negatively,” he said.
Jonathan warned that manipulated content, coordinated propaganda, and the rapid spread of false information online can distort public understanding and increase electoral tension if journalists fail to verify reports properly.
Khadija Kareem, Head of Policy Research and Communications at Dataphyte Foundation, also delivered sessions on digital security and safety for media organizations and CSOs. She addressed participants on legal, policy, and regulatory frameworks for tackling hate speech and disinformation, as well as ethical reporting and data protection.
“Disinformation becomes criminal when harm or public disorder occurs, especially during an election,” she said.
Kareem explained that false narratives can lead to violence and instability, stressing the need for journalists and CSOs to understand the legal consequences of spreading unverified information.
Beyond the classroom sessions, participants were encouraged to form a regional network that can respond quickly to harmful narratives and prevent issues that may trigger violence during elections.The proposed network is expected to strengthen collaboration across the South-South states in tracking and countering misinformation.
In her closing remarks, the Project Coordinator, Maria Belén Álvaro, urged participants to turn the knowledge gained into clear, community-based action plans that will promote peaceful and credible elections.
She encouraged them to return to their states and use their platforms whether media houses or civil society organizations to promote responsible information sharing and civic participation.
The workshop ended with the official launch of the #CheckBeforeYouPost campaign, aimed at encouraging citizens to verify information before sharing it. Participants were presented with certificates of completion at the close of the event.
Several attendees described the training as timely and impactful.
Speaking to CrossRiverWatch, Patience Etim Iyang, representative of the Girls’ Child Development Initiative (GCDI), a Cross River based NGO, said the workshop served as a wake-up call for the region.
She pledged to share the knowledge with her team and ensure that her organization actively promotes the #CheckBeforeYouPost campaign in its programs.
Participants collectively described the training as remarkable and necessary as elections beckons noting that proactive efforts to fight fake news, disinformation, and misinformation are essential to protecting democratic stability in the South-South region.
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