ECONEC, IDEA, EU seek regional cooperation to enhance African poll integrity

Ten countries including Nigeria, last week, converged on Abuja, Nigeria’s capital to brainstorm on how to enhance West Africa’s election integrity amidst misinformation and fake news in the digital age.

The two days convergence was organised by the Internationational Organisations, including International IDEA, the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) with support by the European Union through the Strengthening Pan-African Capacities for Electoral Observation and Assistance (SPEC) project

Speaking at the workshop, the partners highlighted the urgent need for multi-sectoral approaches to addressing the challenges posed by the digital information environment.

They noted that African elections had increasingly been influenced by the digital information environment, adding that while digital platforms provide opportunities for civic engagement, they also pose serious risks when exploited by malign actors.

“Recent elections across the continent have shown how false narratives, cyber attacks, and reputational manipulation can undermine public trust, disrupt voting processes, and even incite violence”, they noted.

Olufunto Akinduro, Senior Adviser on Electoral Processes for Africa and West Asia, International IDEA said “Protecting elections today means protecting both the technical processes and the perception of fairness and credibility.

“Misinformation and disinformation are now as critical a challenge as logistical shortcomings. This workshop is a timely opportunity to strengthen multi-stakeholder cooperation and safeguard public confidence in African democracies.”

Also speaking Serigne Mamadou Ka, Head of Electoral Assistance Division, ECOWAS Commission and Permanent Secretary of ECONEC, said, “Elections are no longer won or lost only at the ballot box; they are increasingly shaped by the narratives that circulate in the information space.

“At ECONEC, we believe that Electoral Management Bodies cannot address these challenges in isolation.

“This workshop provides a vital platform for regional cooperation and collective learning, ensuring that the integrity of elections in West Africa is protected against disinformation and other emerging threats”, he said.

The workshop builds on recent high-level convergence, including the 2024 ECONEC meeting on Information Integrity and Electoral Integrity and the Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC Countries symposium on Digitalisation and Youth Engagement.

The workshop is part of International IDEA’s global project on Protecting Electoral Processes in the Information Environment, supported by the German Federal Foreign Office, which is already active in countries including Colombia, Fiji, Iraq, Libya, Paraguay, and Malaysia.