INEC Warns Online Publishers Against Fake News, Sensational Reporting Ahead of 2027 Elections
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has warned online publishers against sensational reporting, fake news and unverified claims that could undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process and contribute to voter apathy.
Amupitan gave the warning on Thursday in Lagos while speaking at the 10th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), themed, “2027 Elections: Trust, Transparency and Shared Responsibilities.” He was represented at the conference by the Lagos Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Ayobami Salami.
The conference brought together online publishers, editors, media professionals, election stakeholders, civil society organisations and academics to discuss the role of trust, transparency and shared responsibility in strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process.
Amupitan said the media, particularly online publishers, had an important responsibility in shaping public understanding and perception of elections, stressing that inaccurate reports could have consequences beyond the immediate news cycle.
He warned that unverified allegations of electoral fraud could cause lasting damage to public confidence, even when such reports were subsequently corrected.
According to him, the speed of digital information had increasingly outpaced verification, creating opportunities for fake news, manipulated content, political violence narratives and AI-generated deepfakes to influence public perception during elections.
The INEC Chairman urged publishers to prioritise accuracy over the pressure to break stories ahead of competitors, while avoiding clickbait headlines and unverified information.
He also called on media organisations to provide adequate context when reporting operational challenges during elections, rather than presenting isolated incidents as evidence of systemic failure.
Amupitan urged online publishers to verify electoral claims with INEC and other credible sources, particularly when reporting polling-unit results, alleged irregularities and claims of electoral manipulation.
He proposed a three-point partnership between INEC and GOCOP, including dedicated digital fact-verification, stronger editorial self-regulation against the publication of unverified election results and altered result sheets, as well as a national voter education partnership.
He described online publishers as “primary storytellers and narrative custodians” of Nigeria’s democracy, urging them to use their platforms to promote voter education, encourage PVC collection and improve public understanding of the electoral process.
INEC Strengthens Systems Ahead of 2027 Polls
Amupitan said INEC was strengthening its systems ahead of the 2027 general elections, including the deployment of artificial intelligence for data auditing and cyber defence in collaboration with technology companies, including Google and Microsoft.
He said the Commission had also concluded the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, with the national register now standing at about 103 million registered voters, while nationwide PVC collection was scheduled to commence.
The INEC Chairman disclosed that the Commission was engaging Resident Electoral Commissioners, Administrative Secretaries, Heads of Department, Electoral Officers and Assistant Electoral Officers to identify operational gaps and implement corrective measures ahead of Election Day.
He added that comprehensive training programmes were underway for election personnel, covering electoral administration, technology, conflict mitigation and legal compliance.
Amupitan further disclosed that INEC had commenced the procurement and distribution of non-sensitive electoral materials to its 36 state offices and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, the early procurement would provide adequate time for batching, inventory auditing and distribution to the 774 Local Government Areas ahead of the elections.
He said the Commission had also commenced the distribution of new operational pick-up vehicles to state offices and LGAs to address transportation challenges, particularly in difficult terrains, riverine communities and remote border settlements.
INEC, he added, had introduced a centralised Operational Activity Schedule to monitor the movement of materials, storage security and vehicle deployment in real time across state command centres.
Salami Clarifies Authority to Declare Election Results
Responding to questions on the declaration of election results, Lagos REC Prof. Ayobami Salami explained that the Constitution specifically vests the authority to return election results in the designated Returning Officer.
Salami clarified that being an INEC official does not automatically confer constitutional authority to return an election result, noting that even as a Resident Electoral Commissioner, he does not have the constitutional power to announce or return election results.
He explained that Returning Officers are appointed by the Commission and are constitutionally empowered to return results for the elections assigned to them.
In his opening remarks, Conference Chairman, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, stressed the constitutional right of Nigerians to vote and urged INEC to ensure that the 2027 elections are conducted in accordance with the law.
Agbakoba also raised issues expected to shape political discussions ahead of the elections, including the future of fuel subsidy, and called for clear positions from presidential candidates on the issue.
He also questioned the authority surrounding the declaration of election results amid the increasing circulation of opinion polls, projections and unofficial results across traditional and digital media.
The conference ended with renewed emphasis on accuracy, transparency and responsible information dissemination as stakeholders prepare for the 2027 elections.
INEC Warns Online Publishers Against Fake News, Sensational Reporting Ahead of 2027 Elections