#Anambra2025: How voters can curb misinformation at polling units

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In a few days, the people of Anambra will head to the polls to cast their ballots for the next governor of the state. The election has been slated for Nov 8, 2025.

During elections in Nigeria and beyond, a trend of information manipulation has emerged. In past polls monitored by DUBAWA, we have observed how reports circulate online about candidates withdrawing from the race a few hours before Election Day. 

Other disinformation trends include false reports of violence, which are used to create an illusion of instability in certain areas. In some cases, the information targets the credibility of the candidates or the electoral body.

While fact-checkers debunk such misinformation, the impact of the verification may not be as significant as the false information, because, according to a BBC report, ‘fake news’ travels faster. 

However, in order to combat information disorder, DUBAWA’s innovative tool can assist voters in Anambra State to verify claims in minutes ahead of, on, and after Election Day. 

DUBAWA Chatbot 

The DUBAWA Chatbot is a user-friendly tool that operates on WhatsApp and can be used to verify and report claims. It can be beneficial for voters on Election Day to quickly verify their information from their designated polling zones.

There are five basic functions on the Chatbot. It allows users to verify claims, get the latest fact-check reports, and learn about DUBAWA’s mission, values, and services.

Users can also report a claim and play the Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy game.

For new users, the chatbot can be accessed via this link. Initiate a conversation by inputting a short text, after which the chatbot introduces itself and informs users of the conditions of use.

This is immediately followed by a drop-down menu with a list of options for the service the user wants at the time.

Verify claim: With this function, users can quickly verify or debunk information related to the election. For instance, users can input a query like, ‘Who are the candidates in the Anambra election?’ The chatbot replies with a list of verified links to reports on the same issue. 

Get the latest fact-checks: Users who want to access verified information or fact-checks about the elections can utilize this feature in the menu option. This brings up the most recent fact-check report on the website, and users can subsequently navigate the website for more articles.

Report a claim: Users can send links to online posts about the election that they’ve seen and would like factual information about the subject matter. Users can alternatively type out details of the information they want to verify. The Bot informs users that the claim has been submitted to the team and will be reviewed to determine if it meets the criteria for investigation. 

AI Literacy Game: This option enables users to assess their understanding of identifying content generated or manipulated using AI and navigating through such content to avoid deception when it is shared on Election Day. 

The DUBAWA chatbot further bridges the gap between voters and fact-checkers at a critical time, when misinformation actors work aggressively to manipulate the information ecosystem.