Abstract:

The study investigated INEC PR strategies in the management of fake news during the 2023 General Elections in Rivers State. It adopted a survey research design with a total population of 3,537,190 and used Taro Yamane sample size determination to arrive at 400. The researchers employed multi-stage sampling techniques and used questionnaire as the data collection instrument. The findings of the research showed that the extent fake news was shared during the 2023 General Elections in Rivers State was very high; the major strategies INEC PR used in the management of fake news during the 2023 General Elections in Rivers State were press conference, press releases, town hall meetings and steady media engagements. It was recommended that Rivers State residents should confirm the source and authenticity of news before sharing during elections. Laws should be made to prevent and control the sharing of fake news. Rivers State residents should understand that important information is usually placed in periodicals and documentaries of INEC. So, the exposure to periodicals and documentaries will give them the required information about INEC during elections; there should be a reduction of information platforms for INEC and an adequate budget should be made for INEC PR to enable them to manage fake news during elections.