Kogi
Kogi Election: CDD West Africa trains 25 Factcheckers to counter disinformation
By Ishaq Dan-Imam, Lokoja
The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa) has trained twenty five (25) Fact-checkers called ‘Soldiers of Mouth’ to counter disinformation in November 11 Governorship election in Kogi state, north-central Nigeria.
The CDD Factcheckers at the 3-day intensive training of the ‘Soldiers of Mouth’ held at Edgedrive Hotel, Lokoja, from 18th to 20th October, 2023, were exposed to the trends in the social media circle as the training identified insecurity, information gap, intra and inter-party conflict, partisan inclination of bad actors in the cyber space, religious and ethnic biases of the internet users as the key drivers of disinformation in the social media ecosystem.
The CDD had earlier carried out information assessment in the state to find out the degree of disinformation (Fake News), ahead of the election with a view to countering disinformation during and after the governorship election in Kogi state.
In a message, the Executive Director of CDD West Africa, Idayat Hassan, represented by Mr. Armsfeel Ajanaku, said the CDD West Africa with the support of its partners, was unrelenting in its commitment to fighting disinformation with a view to reducing incidence of fake news, which is a recurrent threat to information integrity in Kogi state particularly in the build up to the forthcoming November 11 off-season elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.
The CDD executive director said early warning was key to countering the phenomenon of disinformation as she called on stakeholders to ensure early monitoring of fake news.
According to Ms. Hassan, CDD is coordinating the factchecking structure as it has finalized strategies towards disseminating factchecks on Kogi election on various platforms to reduce incidence of fake news.
“Disinformation and the weaponization of fake news in Nigeria, and across the West African sub-region have had serious implications for the credibility of the electoral process. Information disorder is similarly threatening the social fabric of multi-ethnic societies across the African. The threats posed by fake news, misinformation, and disinformation have also affected historically marginalized groups, especially in terms of their participation in the political process.
” Particularly, the plight of women who already face real political participation barriers has been further accentuated by the dangers posed by fake news, misinformation, and disinformation. The gendered dimensions of fake news were on display during the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections, especially in the light of identity-driven violence, which undermined the participation of several groups. Disinformation has been identified as a key driver in some of the reported cases of violence against women participating in the political process, either as voters or candidates. While the problem is not new, the ongoing manifestations are particularly challenging, given the scope of the manipulation, the ease with which information can be shared, the diversity of techniques adopted to do so, and the proliferation of actors — individuals, partisan actors, and influencers at the level of the communities.
Ms. Idayat said the involvement and coordination of electoral stakeholders were important to expanding the base of information gathering, fact-checking, and dissemination of fact-check reports. According to Idayat, CDD in partnership with other fact-checking organizations has set up the Nigeria Fact-checking Coalition (NFC) to provide training to ramp up the skills of key stakeholders including those at the community level, where access to information could be daunting given challenges in information and communication infrastructure.
This she said was the reasoning behind the innovation of the soldiers of mouth in the context of the Nigerian off cycle elections.
The soldiers of mouth role, according to the CDD chief executive, focuses on wide networks of the ‘Soldiers of Mouth’ in local communities to counter all shades of disinformation, especially those forms, which undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
The CDD urged social media companies to take down false contents, and stressed the need for increase in advocacy by stakeholders to stem the tide of ‘cyber stalking’ and called on the stakeholders to increase digital literacy among Nigerians.
The Nigeria Police, a stakeholder in the CDD factchecking strategy, was represented by the police public relations Officer in the state police command, SP William Aya, who expressed concerns on the circulation of fake press releases on the social media with intent to mislead the public. SP Aya, called on social media users in the state to factcheck before sharing information on social media, warning ‘malicious actors’ of disinformation to desist from creating tension especially during the upcoming Governorship election in Kogi State.
Kogi State Coordinator of CDD, Mr. Ben Reuben Joshua, implored the ‘Soldiers of Mouth’ to wage war against online and Offline disinformation and mutation of data on the social media as they as the soldiers of mouth trained to monitor and debunk claims in the cyber space that could threaten peace in their various Communities in line with the objectives of the training. Mr. Joshua, urged the CDD Factcheckers to approach the assignment with diligence, commitment and vigour as he described the task of the Factcheckers as a self-sacrifice necessary for information integrity in Kogi state and Nigeria, while urging the Factcheckers to ensure timely verification of claims on the conduct of Kogi election as he called on INEC, Police and other election stakeholders to proactive disclosure of information to the public for common good of society.
***As new provost of COE Ankpa visits
The Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman, has called on the National Examinations Council (NECO) to develop a standardized template to prevent students from registering with abbreviated names, which often leads to complications in official records.
Prof. Usman made the appeal on Thursday when he received Kogi State NECO Coordinator, Mr. Thaddeus Ajabu, who was on a courtesy visit as part of a sensitization campaign against name abbreviations in examination registrations.
The Rector emphasized that Kogi Polytechnic already enforces a strict no-abbreviation policy, except in cases where an affidavit clarifies the full name. He urged NECO to adopt similar measures, ensuring uniformity across educational institutions and preventing future identity-related issues.
“We have seen cases where students face challenges during NYSC mobilization and job applications because of discrepancies in their names. A well-structured system from NECO will go a long way in solving this problem,” he stated.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Thaddeus Ajabu of NECO reaffirmed that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) now rejects candidates with abbreviated names, making it urgent for students and schools to adhere to proper registration guidelines.
“We are engaging key stakeholders to ensure that students use their full names during registration. This will save them from unnecessary difficulties in the future,” Ajabu added.
Ajabu also used the opportunity to call for financial support for underprivileged students, urging institutions and well-meaning individuals to sponsor students who cannot afford NECO registration fees.
In a related development, the newly appointed Provost of Kogi State College of Education (COE), Ankpa, Dr. Paul Femi Fashagba, also visited Prof. Usman, accompanied by the Commissioners for Innovation, Science, and Technology, Dr. Helen Adeniyi, and Special Duties, Hon. Sunday Faleke.
The visit aimed to introduce Dr. Fashagba to the Rector and seek his mentorship in academic administration.
Dr. Adeniyi noted that Prof. Usman, being an indigene of Ankpa, holds a key leadership role in the academic sector and can offer valuable guidance to the new Provost.
Prof. Usman congratulated Dr. Fashagba on his appointment and urged him to build on the achievements of his predecessor, Dr. M.K. Ibrahim, while improving on existing policies to advance the College.
“Leadership is about continuity and progress. The best way to succeed is to take what works, improve it, and introduce innovations that benefit students and staff,” he advised.
The visit further strengthened inter-institutional collaboration in Kogi State, fostering knowledge-sharing and mutual growth in the education sector.
In a decisive move to curb illegal revenue collection, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has banned the unlawful daily tolls imposed by transport unions across Kogi State’s 21 Local Government Areas.
The governor issued the directive on Wednesday in Lokoja during a strategic meeting with transport union officials, security agencies, and the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS).
Represented by Commissioner of Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, Governor Ododo made it clear that his administration will not tolerate personal or group interests that undermine public welfare.
At the heart of the meeting was the 2017 Kogi State Revenue Harmonization Law, which introduced the Infrastructure Maintenance Levy (IML)—a modest daily contribution by commercial vehicle operators aimed at improving state infrastructure.
However, the governor lamented that certain transport union leaders have hijacked the system, diverting funds for personal gain while imposing unauthorized levies on their members.
“Instead of remitting these funds as stipulated, some union officials have resorted to illegal collections, depriving both their members and the government of much-needed revenue,” Ododo stated.
To restore transparency and accountability, the governor ordered security agencies to enforce compliance immediately, warning that disruptions to public order will not be tolerated. He also reaffirmed that:
Union dues must be collected fairly—monthly, bi-annually, or annually—not as a daily burden on transport operators.
New Infrastructure Maintenance Levy rates have been established through stakeholder consultations to ease the financial strain on motorists while ensuring unions’ interests are considered.
Top government officials including State Security Adviser Cdr Jerry Omodara, Commissioner of Transportation Victor Atuluku, and KGIRS Executive Chairman Alhaji Salihu Sule Enehe have been tasked with implementing the new policy seamlessly.
Governor Ododo’s directive is seen as a bold step toward eliminating extortion in the transport sector while securing sustainable revenue for infrastructural development.
The new policy aims to strike a balance between the interests of the state, transport unions, and the general public, ensuring that Kogi’s roads and transport infrastructure receive the necessary funding without overburdening motorists.
With strict enforcement underway, the era of illegal daily toll collection is officially over in Kogi State.
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
The Kogi State House of Assembly has screened and confirmed Dr. Olufemi Bolarin as the Commissioner for the newly established Ministry of Livestock Development.
His confirmation followed a request from Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, which was deliberated and approved during Tuesday’s plenary session.
During the screening, Minority Leader Hon. Ibikunle Idowu (Yagba-West State Constituency) reminded the House that Dr. Bolarin had previously served as Commissioner for Agriculture and had a strong track record in public service. Citing his grassroots political experience and contributions to the state, lawmakers unanimously agreed that he was a perfect fit for the role.
Speaker Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf commended the screening process and urged Dr. Bolarin to deliver on Governor Ododo’s vision for livestock productivity and development in the state.
Dr. Bolarin’s appointment follows Governor Ododo’s January 10 approval of the Ministry of Livestock Development, aimed at boosting livestock farming, enhancing resilience, and improving food security.
Before his nomination, Dr. Bolarin served as the State Project Coordinator of Kogi Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (Kogi L-PRES). Speaking to journalists, he reaffirmed his commitment to attracting investors and partners to the livestock sector while ensuring sustainable productivity and growth.
A respected scholar, Dr. Bolarin is an Associate Professor with a PhD in Agriculture (Animal Production Extension) from the University of Ilorin. He also holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Agricultural Communication from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
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