An independent fact-checking and media literacy organisation, FactCheck Africa, has inaugurated the TruthGuard Election Integrity and Misinformation Situation Room to monitor and counter misinformation, disinformation and other forms of information disorder ahead of the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election.

Speaking on the initiative on Friday, the Founder of FactCheck Africa, Olasupo Abideen, said it was inaugurated against the backdrop of rising political tension and security concerns in the state.

He added that protecting elections now required safeguarding the information ecosystem from coordinated falsehoods.

“This initiative is designed to protect the integrity of the electoral information space through real-time monitoring, independent fact-checking and rapid response to false claims, hate speech, malinformation and technology-facilitated gender-based violence before, during and after the election.

“The integrity of an election is inseparable from the integrity of the information that shapes public opinion. Elections are now contested not only at polling units but also across digital platforms where false narratives, manipulated content and AI-generated media can spread rapidly and erode public trust,” he said.

Abideen revealed that the National Peace Committee, through The Kukah Centre’s Election Security Information Hub, had classified 15 local government areas in Osun as critical, high- and moderate-risk areas for election-related violence, citing political violence, institutional tensions, electoral offences and information disorder.

“Attacks on political gatherings, shootings in parts of the state and assaults on election officials during the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards have heightened concerns over the security environment.

“Advances in generative artificial intelligence have made it easier to circulate deepfakes, cloned audio, manipulated images and recycled videos capable of misleading voters, inflaming tensions and undermining public confidence in the electoral process.

“The TruthGuard Situation Room will serve as a real-time monitoring and rapid-response hub, bringing together fact-checkers, digital investigators, journalists, researchers, data analysts and gender experts to identify emerging narratives, verify claims and provide accurate election information,” he said.

Abideen said the organisation would work to expose misinformation, recycled videos, deepfakes and coordinated disinformation campaigns before they influenced public perception.

“We are equally committed to protecting women, journalists, election officials and other democratic actors from technology-facilitated abuse and coordinated online attacks. An informed electorate remains the strongest defence against misinformation, violence and electoral manipulation,” he added.

He urged journalists, election observers, political parties, civil society organisations and members of the public to report suspicious election-related claims, manipulated content and AI-generated media through the TruthGuard reporting channels for independent verification.

Abideen reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting peaceful, credible and transparent elections through independent fact-checking and evidence-based reporting.