According to Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, fake news is the greatest threat to the 2023 elections.
He advised the opposition parties against using false information to influence voters.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, was pained by the propagation of incorrect information about him.
When Interior Minister Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola presented the ministerial scorecard in Abuja, Mohammed asserted that "false news is capable of thwarting the success of the polls."
He declared: "A significant threat to the success of the 2023 general election is the media's growing use of fake news and misinformation.
“It is generally assumed that thuggery, insecurity, vote buying, attack on INEC facilities, etc., are the biggest threats to the elections.
“But fake news and disinformation constitute an equally-potent threat because they are capable of hampering the success of the polls.
“In recent times, we have all witnessed how a letter purportedly from INEC was used to cast aspersions on the candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
“Shortly after that, the death of an innocent man was turned to a political tool to further attack the same APC candidate.
“Of course, there have been other cases similar to the two I have just enumerated. This is a dangerous development which must be nipped in the bud.
“If the opposition has suddenly realised that they cannot match the ruling party in a free and fair election, and have thus decided to weaponize fake news and disinformation, the media should not allow itself to be used for that nefarious purpose.
“Since launching our national campaign against fake news, disinformation and hate speech, in 2018, our strategy has been to use persuasion and enlightenment, rather than coercion.
“And that was why we partnered with a number of media houses for the campaign. But it would seem as if that is not deterring those who are bent on using these (fake news and disinformation) as tools of destabilisation, destruction and distortion.”
In an appeal to those who spread disinformation, Mohammed warned that those responsible would be held accountable by the state.
Additionally, he said, “We have all seen the damage done to elections in other climes by fake news and disinformation.
“No government will sit by and allow anyone or any organisation to use fake news and disinformation to sow the seeds of discord. We are therefore compelled to warn the purveyors of fake news and disinformation, especially in the run-up to next year’s elections, to stop forthwith. Enough is enough.”