The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has deployed a team of fact-checkers, researchers, and journalists to Côte d’Ivoire ahead of the country’s 2025 presidential election scheduled for October 25. The move is aimed at countering the growing spread of electoral misinformation and disinformation that could threaten democratic participation and public trust in the electoral process.
The initiative is being implemented through CJID’s Election Information Observatory—an AI-powered platform designed to monitor and debunk fake news in real time. The platform will track misleading narratives online and offline while providing fact-checked election updates to citizens.
Working in partnership with the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), local media organisations, and civil society groups, CJID will deliver verified election information through its fact-checking arm, DUBAWA. The collaboration aims to promote electoral transparency and help voters access credible information before, during, and after the polls.
Building on its experience monitoring elections in Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Guinea, CJID says the Côte d’Ivoire deployment reinforces its mission to uphold democracy and media accountability across West Africa.
Researchers, Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) specialists, and data analysts from CJID’s Media in National Elections (MiNE) team will also track media influence on voter behaviour and democratic participation. Insights from this work will help deepen understanding of the link between information integrity and national development.
Speaking on the deployment, CJID’s Executive Director, Akintunde Babatunde, emphasised the organisation’s commitment to safeguarding electoral integrity:
> “The credibility of elections depends not only on transparent administration but also on the integrity of the information ecosystem. Our work in Côte d’Ivoire will ensure that citizens vote based on facts, not falsehoods. We have been operational in Côte d’Ivoire for about 18 months, training journalists and first-time voters. The media remains central to building a democratic society, and we are grateful to WANEP, CIVICUS, and other partners for their support.”
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CJID reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening media resilience and informed civic engagement in Africa through evidence-based journalism, research, and collaboration.
About CJID
The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) is a non-profit organisation headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria. Founded in 2014, the organisation works across West Africa to promote independent media, democratic accountability, and information integrity. Through its initiatives in civic technology, journalism training, and research, CJID empowers citizens and advances democratic governance across the continent.
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