The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has charged Voter Education Desk Officers (VEDOs) to proactively combat misinformation and election-related disinformation while driving greater voter participation.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Rivers State, Dr Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem, gave the charge on Monday during the official opening of a one-day capacity-building workshop for Voter Education Desk Officers in Port Harcourt.
The workshop, held at the Swiss Spirit Hotel, brought together VEDOs from four South-South states — Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers.
Sinikiem urged the officers to serve as frontline ambassadors in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process through effective voter education and timely communication.
He stressed the need for dynamic and proactive messaging to address voter apathy, counter fake news and neutralise election-related disinformation.
The REC also called for the adoption of modern communication strategies across traditional, digital and grassroots platforms to improve voter education and participation.
He further urged the officers to strengthen outreach to underrepresented groups, particularly women, youths and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), to ensure broader inclusion in the electoral process.
Sinikiem reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to providing the necessary logistics, materials and administrative support to enable the officers carry out their field operations effectively.
