By: Chinonso Okoye
The Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Peace, Security, Good Governance, Equity and Justice has dismissed as fabricated and misleading a purported “secret inter-agency memo” circulating on social media, which allegedly accuses the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies of plans to suppress voters and compromise electoral technology.
In a special media intervention issued on Monday, August 10, 2026, the National Coordinator of the coalition, Comrade James Okoronkwo, said the group had undertaken what it described as a forensic assessment of the document and related claims and found them to be without credibility.
Okoronkwo, who addressed the statement to the Nigerian public, international diplomatic community and media executives, said the alleged memo was part of what he described as a deliberate disinformation campaign aimed at undermining public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
According to him, the coalition’s strategic research unit examined the document and digital materials being circulated online and concluded that the purported memo was a “poorly forged piece of digital disinformation.”
He said the alleged document should therefore be disregarded, urging Nigerians not to allow unverified materials circulating on digital platforms to create unnecessary tension ahead of forthcoming electoral activities.
The coalition also expressed confidence in the technological systems deployed by INEC, particularly the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), saying the commission’s electoral technology should be allowed to function without being subjected to unfounded allegations of manipulation.
Okoronkwo further alleged that some political actors were deploying what he described as “preemptive disinformation campaigns” in anticipation of possible electoral setbacks.
He argued that attempts to discredit the electoral umpire before elections could ultimately weaken public confidence in the democratic process and create a narrative for disputing electoral outcomes.
“We urge all political stakeholders to pursue their interests through lawful democratic channels and refrain from spreading information capable of undermining peace and confidence in the electoral process,” the coalition stated.
The group also appealed to the media and digital publishers to exercise greater responsibility in handling sensitive electoral information, particularly materials originating from anonymous or unverifiable sources.
It urged editors, journalists, bloggers and digital influencers to subject such documents to proper verification and seek clarification from relevant official institutions before publication or amplification.
The coalition similarly called on foreign missions and international observers monitoring Nigeria’s democratic process to rely on independently verifiable information and credible sources rather than unsubstantiated claims circulating online.
While reaffirming its commitment to peace, good governance, equity and justice, the coalition passed a vote of confidence in the leadership and personnel of INEC.
It commended the commission for what it described as its commitment to technological transparency, operational neutrality and the conduct of credible elections, while urging Nigerians to remain vigilant against misinformation and participate peacefully in the democratic process.
The coalition maintained that credible elections require not only efficient electoral institutions but also responsible political actors, a professional media and an informed citizenry capable of distinguishing verified information from deliberate disinformation.
Signed:
Comrade James Okoronkwo
National Coordinator
Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Peace, Security, Good Governance, Equity and Justice
