The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has warned broadcast media organisations against the spread of misinformation, saying the credibility of the 2027 General Election will depend largely on how responsibly Nigeria’s airwaves are managed.
Amupitan gave the warning on Tuesday, April 8, 2026, while speaking at the 81st General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON).
He said the information space has become a major battleground in modern elections, stressing that the greatest threat to credible polls may no longer be physical disruption, but the rapid spread of false information through unverified broadcasts.
The INEC chairman urged media organisations to strictly comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly those guiding political broadcasting. He noted that with 22 registered political parties in the country, broadcasters are under a legal obligation to provide equal access to media platforms for all parties.
According to him, fairness in airtime allocation and political coverage is not optional but a statutory requirement.
Amupitan also drew attention to legal provisions prohibiting the use of abusive, inflammatory or divisive language capable of inciting ethnic, religious or sectional tensions. He warned that irresponsible broadcasting could undermine national unity and threaten the electoral process.
He further reminded broadcasters of the mandatory 24-hour “cooling-off period” before Election Day, during which political campaigns and advertisements are not allowed. He said the measure is intended to give voters time to reflect and make informed decisions without last-minute pressure or misinformation.
While acknowledging the constitutional right to freedom of expression, the INEC chairman maintained that such freedom must be exercised within the bounds of the law. He said the airwaves, being a public resource, must be used responsibly and fairly during elections.
Amupitan said INEC and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) have complementary roles in ensuring the integrity of political broadcasting, but noted that regulatory overlaps, weak enforcement and the convergence of traditional and digital media have made effective monitoring more difficult.
He also raised concerns over what he described as perceived incumbency advantage in state-owned media, as well as the increasing commercialisation of political airtime, warning that such practices could place smaller political parties at a disadvantage and erode the level playing field needed for credible elections.
To address the challenges, he called for stronger collaboration among regulatory agencies, clearer legal definitions of equal access, improved fact-checking mechanisms and greater transparency in political advertising, including full disclosure of sponsorship and pricing.
Amupitan urged broadcasters to place truth and professionalism above profit by verifying information before airing it and taking deliberate steps to combat fake news.
He also called on the media to play a more active role in mobilising citizens to participate in the electoral process.
Reaffirming INEC’s commitment to transparency, the commission’s chairman advised media organisations to rely on the commission’s official platforms as authoritative sources of electoral information, assuring them of continued engagement through designated spokespersons.
He said the credibility of the 2027 General Election would depend not only on logistics and technology, but also on the integrity of the information environment, urging broadcasters to act in the best interest of Nigeria’s democracy.
