The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned journalists against publishing unverified election results, manipulated content and misinformation capable of undermining public confidence in the 2027 general elections.
Sponsored Ads
The Commission also disclosed that it was strengthening its technological infrastructure, cybersecurity and results management systems to protect the integrity of the electoral process ahead of the polls.
Sponsored Ads
Abia State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Sylvia Uchenna Agu, gave the warning on Wednesday at the 2026 Media Retreat and Press Week of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Council, held at Bishop Nwedo Pastoral Centre, Umuahia.
Speaking on the theme, Safeguarding Electoral Integrity in the Digital Age: INEC and the Media Ahead of the 2027 General Elections, Agu identified misinformation, disinformation, artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes, cloned voices and manipulated result sheets as emerging threats to electoral credibility.
She urged media organisations to prioritise verification over speed, warning that the pursuit of breaking news must not come at the expense of national stability and public trust.
Agu advised journalists to resist the temptation to publish unverified information in pursuit of exclusive reports, stressing that the race to break the news must not break the nation.
She also urged media practitioners to cross-check election-related information with INEC before broadcasting or publishing, noting that failure to verify claims could expose news organisations to credibility challenges.
The REC cautioned against declaring election results based on information from unauthorised sources, warning journalists not to become channels for spreading unverified figures.
She called on the media to support voter education by explaining relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly those concerning voter accreditation, electronic transmission of results and transparency in the electoral process.
According to Agu, the new legal framework has strengthened electoral safeguards through provisions mandating the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for voter accreditation and the electronic transmission of polling unit results to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
She also pointed to provisions prescribing penalties for officials who deliberately frustrate the electronic transmission of results, adding that the law had strengthened transparency and accountability.
On INEC’s technological preparedness, Agu said the Commission was building on lessons from previous elections to improve BVAS, IReV, the electronic EC8A and its Results Management System.
She explained that the electronic EC8A system was designed to identify inconsistencies between manually completed polling unit result sheets and electronically captured results. According to her, such discrepancies must be resolved before the results can be uploaded.
RELATED STORIES
Related Posts
The REC recalled an alleged manipulation of voter accreditation figures in a local government area of Abia State during the 2023 general elections, which she said was exposed through BVAS.
Agu said the system recorded 27,000 accredited voters in the affected local government area, but the figure was allegedly altered manually to 102,000, sparking controversy.
She explained that when the discrepancy emerged, INEC’s information and communications technology experts checked the figure captured by BVAS and displayed on IReV.
According to her, the incident demonstrated how technology could protect electoral integrity and prevent discrepancies in accreditation figures from going undetected.
Agu urged Nigerians to maintain confidence in INEC, assuring them that the Commission was strengthening its systems and procedures to deliver credible elections in 2027.
She said INEC was also improving cybersecurity, protecting election data, monitoring its systems and strengthening disaster recovery mechanisms to ensure the reliability of its digital infrastructure.
The REC disclosed that the Commission was exploring the responsible use of artificial intelligence to improve planning, data analysis and operational efficiency, while retaining human oversight and accountability.
She, however, noted that technology alone could not guarantee credible elections without adequate training, testing, operational preparedness and cooperation among relevant departments and officials.
Agu described the media as a critical constitutional partner in the electoral process, citing Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates the press to hold the government accountable.
She urged journalists to balance their watchdog responsibilities with professional ethics, accuracy and responsible reporting, particularly during the sensitive election period.
The REC said INEC remained committed to working with digital platforms to address demonstrably false electoral content while intensifying voter education through its official communication channels.
She expressed confidence that credible elections in 2027 would depend on the collective commitment of INEC, the media and other stakeholders to transparency, professionalism and the national interest.
Agu assured journalists that the Commission would remain open to engagement and reiterated its commitment to conducting free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.
More than 30 media practitioners participated in the retreat, organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of Abia NUJ as part of efforts to deepen democracy and improve journalistic efficiency.
Comments are closed.