The Deputy Vice Chancellor, (DVC) Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Professor Shola Omotola, Thursday identified fake news, hate speech and electoral violence as threat to the 2023 general elections.
Professor Omotola said this while delivering the maiden Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zone B annual public lecture and award presentation titled: “The Media and the 2023 Elections in Nigeria: Retrospect and Prospects,” and held at the Oyo state NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
The university don said Nigeria’s elections have not lived up to expectations in almost all respects due mostly to issues such as electoral violence, fake news, hate speech among others.
He highlighted others as increasing judicialisation of politics, squandering of hopes, poor election, weak democracy, limited dividends of democracy/ acute underdevelopment.”
Professor Omotola stated that the media have critical roles to play for the success of the 2023 general elections. They are: “inclusiveness/ fairness in coverage and reporting, campaign messages/promises, political debates, election observations and objective reporting.”
Speaking further, the guest lecturer tasked Nigerians to be more vigilant than ever before and that the media should be well positioned to play vital roles in the success of the election.