Ado-Ekiti, June 19, 2026
The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has deployed election observers, journalists, fact-checkers, researchers, and security experts across the 16 Local Government Areas of Ekiti State, and as part of its Election Observatory ahead of the June 20 Governorship Election. The deployment is part of CJID's commitment to strengthening information integrity and promoting electoral transparency across West Africa.
As part of the deployment, CJID has activated its Election Observatory to coordinate real-time election monitoring, analysis, media support, and rapid response to emerging electoral developments and feed data to its 40-member media coalition on election reporting to enhance the quality, depth, and accuracy of media reporting during the election. The Observatory brings together experts from DUBAWA, CJID's fact-checking platform, researchers from its Digital Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Information Disorder Analysis Centre (DAIDAC), as well as specialists from the organisation's Accountability, Conflict, and Journalism Programmes.
The organisation will monitor election-day developments, including voter participation, election administration, trends in misinformation and disinformation, security incidents, attacks on journalists, and compliance with electoral guidelines.
Speaking on the deployment, CJID's Executive Director, Akintunde Babatunde, said:
"The Ekiti Governorship Election presents an important opportunity to strengthen public confidence in democratic institutions and demonstrate that credible elections remain possible in Nigeria. Our deployment reflects CJID's commitment to safeguarding electoral integrity through independent observation, fact-checking, data-driven analysis, and support for responsible journalism."
"Beyond observing the conduct of the election, we are particularly concerned about the growing threat of misinformation, disinformation, and voter suppression narratives circulating online. Through our Election Observatory, DUBAWA fact-checkers, DAIDAC researchers, and field observers, we will work to ensure that citizens, journalists, and stakeholders have access to accurate and verified information throughout the electoral process."
Babatunde further called on all stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties, candidates, the media, and citizens, to uphold the principles of peace, transparency, professionalism, and respect for the rule of law.
Ahead of the election, CJID's observation efforts identified emerging misinformation trends, including AI-generated content and false narratives capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process. The organisation stated that it would continue to monitor and counter false information in collaboration with members of the Nigeria Fact-Checking Coalition (NFC).
CJID reaffirms its commitment to supporting free, fair, peaceful, and inclusive elections as a cornerstone of Nigeria's democratic development and calls on voters to reject vote-buying, violence, hate speech, and misinformation while participating responsibly in the electoral process.
About CJID
The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) is a leading non-profit organisation advancing democratic accountability, media freedom, civic participation, and electoral integrity across Africa. Through its Media in National Elections (MiNE) project, CJID supports research, election observation, fact-checking, civic education, and media-led initiatives that strengthen democratic governance and informed citizen participation.
Media Contact:
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Website: www.thecjid.org
