Abuja, Nigeria –The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to broadcast media outlets to commit to fairness, professionalism, and accurate reporting as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the 81st General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) in Abuja on Wednesday, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan highlighted the expanding influence of radio and television in shaping public understanding of political developments. He said the “information space” is now a central arena in which democratic outcomes can be won or lost and urged broadcasters to rise to the occasion.
Amupitan described the nation’s airwaves as foundational to democratic engagement, warning that misinformation and unbalanced coverage could distort public perception and threaten the integrity of the electoral process. He stressed the importance of broadcasters providing equal access to political parties and candidates, in line with provisions of the recently enacted Electoral Act 2026.
Under the new law, media outlets are required to allocate equal media time to political parties or candidates and are prohibited from using state-owned platforms to benefit any contestant. Amupitan also reiterated legal restrictions that ban campaign broadcasts within 24 hours leading up to and on election day, noting that violations constitute an offence under the statute.
In his remarks, the INEC chairman cautioned against the use of inflammatory or abusive language in political messaging, emphasising that content likely to provoke religious, ethnic, or sectional tensions is prohibited. He underscored the need for newsrooms to fact-check information in real time to prevent the spread of falsehoods, rather than addressing errors after they have already circulated widely.
Amupitan also called for stronger collaboration between media regulators, broadcasters, and enforcement agencies to enhance compliance with electoral laws. He proposed a coordinated effort involving INEC, the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, security agencies, and the judiciary to uphold accountability and public trust.
With just months remaining before the scheduled presidential and national assembly elections in January 2027, the commission is urging media executives to amplify civic education and encourage voter participation. “A democracy experiencing voter apathy is a backsliding democracy,” he said, highlighting the role of the media in mobilising citizens to exercise their franchise.