The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has called on the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and media organisations to enforce stricter editorial standards as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections.
Amupitan made the call on Wednesday during the 81st General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, the INEC chairman warned that in the upcoming elections, “the most dangerous weapon will not be a ballot-snatcher’s gun, but a smartphone user’s lie amplified by an uncritical broadcast station.”
He stressed that Nigeria’s airwaves must remain a sanctuary for truth rather than a megaphone for misinformation or chaos.
Amupitan described the media space as “the new frontline of democratic contestation,” highlighting that modern elections are increasingly influenced by information dissemination, not just activities at polling units.
“As we sit here today, April 8, 2026, the countdown has begun: 283 days remain until the Presidential and National Assembly Elections on January 16, 2027, and 304 days until the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections on February 6, 2027,” he stated.
The INEC Chairman explained that the credibility of these elections would depend as much on responsible media coverage as on logistics and technology.
He highlighted Section 96(1) of the Electoral Act, which prohibits abusive, slanderous, or inflammatory language capable of provoking ethnic, religious, or sectional tensions.
“In a plural society such as ours, careless political broadcasting could inflame divisions and destabilise the electoral environment.
”The line between robust political debate and incitement must never be blurred,” Amupitan warned.
He also reminded broadcasters of the statutory 24-hour “cooling-off period” before polling day, during which political advertisements and campaign broadcasts are prohibited.
“Elections are not only about campaigning; they are also about reflection.
”The law creates a quiet space for citizens to make independent decisions free from undue influence,” he noted.
While defending regulatory measures, Amupitan acknowledged Nigeria’s constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, stressing that regulation must balance the preservation of media independence with the public interest.
He underscored the principle of equitable access to the airwaves, noting that with 22 registered political parties, fairness is statutory, not optional.
”Media organisations must ensure no single interest dominates broadcast coverage, ” he said.
Violations of these rules, he warned, carry stiff penalties, including fines running into millions of naira and potential imprisonment for principal officers.
Amupitan further highlighted the growing challenge posed by digital convergence.
“Broadcast content is no longer confined to radio and television. It is clipped, amplified, and weaponised online within minutes,” he said.
To address these issues, the INEC chairman proposed a series of reforms, including clearer statutory definitions of “equal access,” stronger coordination between INEC and NBC, enhanced independence of regulatory bodies, and stricter internal editorial guidelines within media organisations.
He also called for strengthened fact-checking mechanisms and transparent disclosure of political advertising sponsorship and pricing structures.
Highlighting the threat of voter apathy, Amupitan described elections as “the lifeblood of democracy,” cautioning that the temptation to prioritise high-paying political advertisements over balanced reporting would intensify as campaigns gain momentum.
“In this 2027 roadmap, elections are no longer contested only at the polling units; they are contested in the information space.
”I urge the broadcast media to rise against mis- and disinformation so as to protect the sanctity of our electoral process,” he said.
