It is not uncommon for social media platforms to be awash with false information and misleading claims, particularly during election periods. Recently, the Nigerian political scene has witnessed the spread of misinformation, with individuals and groups peddling fake news to mislead and deceive the public.
One of the most recent examples of such misinformation came from Tunde Ednut, a controversial blogger with a large following on Instagram. In a post on his verified account, Ednut shared a picture of Olumide Oworu, the Labour Party candidate for Surulere 1 State Constituency, with alleged wounds inflicted by Desmond Elliot’s boys.
According to Ednut, the picture was evidence of a brutal attack on Oworu by Elliot’s supporters. However, it has been revealed that the picture was fake, and there was no such attack on the Labour Party candidate.
In reality, the picture shared by Ednut was from a movie set. Olumide Oworu, who is an upcoming actor, had posted the same picture on his Instagram page on 3rd October 2022, with a caption stating that it was a make-up for a movie titled “Alagbado John Wick.”
It is unclear why Tunde Ednut chose to share this fake picture, and his motives behind doing so. However, it is essential to note that the spread of misinformation can have severe consequences, particularly during elections. Misleading claims and fake news can sway voters and influence the outcome of elections, which is not in the interest of the public.
It is the responsibility of all social media users to verify the accuracy of the information they share before doing so. It is particularly critical for those with large followings, such as Tunde Ednut, to exercise caution when sharing information that could have serious implications.
Furthermore, it is crucial to hold individuals and groups accountable for spreading fake news and misinformation. Platforms such as Instagram and Twitter have taken steps to combat the spread of misinformation by introducing fact-checking mechanisms and suspending accounts that violate their policies. However, more needs to be done to address this issue, particularly in the Nigerian context.
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