Stakeholders Urge Peaceful Elections Ahead of Osun Vote

On Thursday, a one-day Policy Dialogue on Electoral Offences, Peaceful Elections, Responsible Use of Social Media, and Consequence Management was organized by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) in collaboration with the Digital Africa Research and Safety Lab (DigiAfricaLab) in Osogbo, Osun State. The event gathered representatives from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria Police Force, National Orientation Agency (NOA), civil society organizations, academia, media, traditional and religious leaders, and digital influencers.

Mr. Adebiyi Stephen Adefarasin, the Osun State Director of NOA, urged residents to verify information before sharing it on social media, promoting a peaceful and credible election.

He highlighted the need for responsible communication and warned against misinformation and hate speech. Mr.

Ezenwa Nwagwu, Executive Director of PAACA, stressed the importance of understanding electoral offences, noting that selling Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) is a criminal act. He called for restraint among political actors to prevent electoral violence.