...Urges responsible online engagement
As the 2027 general elections approach, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ebonyi State Chapter, has issued a strong warning to youths across the state against engaging in “politics of calumny” and the spread of fake news on social media.
Speaking during an unscheduled visit by a group of social media influencers to the NYCN Annex Office at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, the State Chairman of the Council, Comrade Douglas Ochishi, condemned the rising trend of online defamation and politically motivated misinformation, describing it as “a harmattan wind that does no man any good.”
Ochishi urged Ebonyi youths to embrace positive use of digital platforms, saying that “social media should be a tool for promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and unity not a weapon for blackmail and disunity.”
“The way some of our youths now use social media makes us appear naïve.
"In developed societies, social media drives good ideology, creativity, and business. But here, we often see fire-brigade approaches aimed at tarnishing people’s images. This must stop," he said.
He reminded the influencers that laws now exist to punish the dissemination of false information, warning that even reposting unverified content could attract legal consequences.
“Some people buy Android phones and think that gives them license to insult or misinform. Remember, not everyone on social media understands the ethics of journalism. There are laws guiding online publication, and ignorance is not an excuse," Ochishi said.
Ochishi called for unity among Ebonyi youths irrespective of political or social differences, describing them as “one indivisible family” and urging them to avoid online conduct capable of inciting political crises.
He further encouraged youths to use their platforms to mobilize for voter registration and support the ongoing developmental agenda of Governor Francis Nwifuru, noting that the state government had made “tremendous progress in infrastructure, education, water, and youth empowerment.”
“As a youth council, we will continue to support the People’s Charter of Needs led by His Excellency. When you build the youth, you build the nation," he said.
On his part, Mr. Jethro Luke, a social media influencer and founder of Nkenkenyi Media, reaffirmed the commitment of online advocates in Ebonyi to collaborate with the NYCN to curb fake news and promote credible information.
Luke emphasized that his organization is already leading campaigns for voter registration ahead of the 2027 elections, urging stakeholders to support logistics efforts, especially for rural communities.
“We are working to mobilize people without voter’s cards to register. We’ve appealed to some stakeholders to donate buses to transport rural voters.
"Our aim is to ensure every eligible Ebonyian is ready to participate in the coming elections," he said.
Luke also cautioned social media users to verify information before posting or sharing, stressing that reposting fake content attracts even greater penalties under existing cyber laws.
“Confirm, confirm, and confirm before you post. Once you share fake information, you become liable. Nobody will save you when the law comes for you," he said.
Other speakers alongside the youth leader reaffirmed their commitment to continuous partnership in sensitizing Ebonyi youths on the positive use of social media, emphasizing that digital influence should foster development, not division.
