GROUP SET TO LAUNCH GUIDELINES FOR USE OF DIGITAL, SOCIAL MEDIA IN AFRICA’S ELECTION IN JOHANNESBURG

By Vincess Okushi

To curb electoral malpractices across the Sahel region, the Association of African Election Authorities in collaboration with the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) is set to launch the Principles and Guidelines for the Use of Digital and Social Media for Elections in Africa to boost accountability, transparency and fairness of the electioneering process.

The Principles and Guidelines are human rights-inspired non-binding and persuasive instruments meant to bridge the gap between social media use and implications in the continent.

Speaking at the official launching on Tuesday, 27th February in Johannesburg South Africa, Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) represented by Dr. Sa’ad Idris, the Director-General of the INEC Electoral Institute (TEI) said the development was based on recommendations of the first-ever Continental Conference for Election Management Bodies held in Cape Town, March 2020, South Africa.

The DG TEI is expected to make a presentation on,

PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA IN ELECTIONS: THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) NIGERIA EXPERIENCE WITH DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA DURING ELECTIONS

The 3-day event is themed “Safeguarding Electoral Integrity in the Digital Age: Strategies for Combatting Digital Disinformation” jointly organized by the Electoral Commission of South Africa, the African Union Commission (AUC), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Guidelines emphasized the importance of harnessing social media to bolster EMBs’ standing and fostering confidence and trust while engaging the stakeholders, even as it highlights the dangers of social media misuse and calls for responsible journalism and accountability among platform owners and users.

And also urged African EMBs to adopt a clear and comprehensive plan for the responsible use of social media during electoral periods.

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