AS Edo State prepares for the highly anticipated governorship election scheduled for September 21, 2024, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) is taking proactive measures to ensure a transparent electoral process.
The CDD has deployed 70 accredited, non-partisan observers, including a team known as the “Soldiers of Mouth,” dedicated to monitoring disinformation before, during, and after the election.
This initiative led by political scientist Professor Adele Jinadu, will summarize key trends observed in the pre-election period to assess their impact on the election’s conduct and outcomes.
This election marks the fourth off-cycle governorship election in Nigeria following the controversial 2023 general elections, and CDD-West Africa aims to improve electoral conduct in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
According to the Director of CDD-West Africa, Dauda Garuba, PhD, the political atmosphere in Edo State is currently characterized by heightened tensions and rivalries, leading to an increase in disinformation tactics used to gain partisan advantage adding that a comprehensive report on the election’s conduct and outcomes is set to be published on the CDD website after the election.
Edo State is recognized as a pivotal battleground in Nigeria’s political landscape, known for its ability to influence national trends. The upcoming elections are expected to be the most competitive since the 2023 general elections, prompting the CDD to deploy observers across all 18 local governments to collect direct feedback on both the electoral process and instances of misinformation.
A recent background paper identified key factors that could influence voting patterns, including the state’s political history, the legacy of the incumbent government, federal influence, issues of insecurity, and ethnic dynamics.
The candidate landscape in this election features Asue Ighodalo from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), whose nomination has sparked a rift with the current governor’s deputy, Philip Shaibu, who has recently switched to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after being impeached. The APC is represented by Monday Okpebholo, a first-term senator aiming to help restore the party’s dominance after its losses in 2020. Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party’s nominee and former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, seeks to capitalize on the party’s previous electoral success. All candidates are relatively new to elective politics, which, along with their associations with influential figures, may significantly impact the election results.
However, the pre-election period has revealed concerning trends, particularly the use of gendered disinformation intended to undermine women’s political participation. Despite the low representation of female candidates, verbal attacks and misogynistic remarks against women attempting to engage in politics have become increasingly commonplace.
One notable example involved former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who faced backlash after referring to Edo State First Lady Betsy Obaseki as “childless.” In the cultural context of Nigeria, such a description is derogatory and serves to delegitimize a woman’s role in political discourse. Moreover, other female political figures have been targeted with narratives aimed at questioning their credibility, such as false claims about First Lady Obaseki’s involvement in the sale of prepaid meters, which—despite being a legitimate initiative—were portrayed negatively to undermine her integrity.
As the election date approaches, CDD-West Africa urges electoral institutions and security agencies to uphold impartiality and ensure a fair electoral process. The organization emphasizes the importance of collaboration among fact-checking entities to effectively combat disinformation campaigns. Initiatives aimed at countering gendered disinformation, noting that social media campaigns and voter education programs, are essential for promoting women’s empowerment in politics and challenging damaging stereotypes.
In closing, CDD-EAC calls for peaceful engagement and responsible rhetoric from political actors while pledging to monitor the electoral environment to support a peaceful election process in Nigeria.