The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged media organisations, particularly online publishers, to prioritise accurate reporting and voter education ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Commission warned that fake news, unverified reports and artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes could undermine public confidence in the electoral process, heighten political tensions and discourage voter participation.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, made the call in a keynote address delivered by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos State, Prof. Ayobami Salami, at the 10th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Lagos on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
The conference, themed “2027 Elections – Trust, Transparency and Shared Responsibilities,” brought together media professionals, election stakeholders, academics and civil society organisations to discuss ways to strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
Amupitan reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to conducting transparent, credible and trustworthy elections in 2027, noting that INEC was strengthening its operational, technological and logistical capacity ahead of the polls.
He said the Commission had embarked on a comprehensive overhaul covering election administration, technology, logistics, staff capacity and field readiness.
According to him, INEC’s operations are coordinated through 23 departments and directorates at its headquarters, 36 state offices, including the Federal Capital Territory, and 774 local government area offices nationwide.
On voter registration, the INEC chairman disclosed that the three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise conducted between August 2025 and July 2026 captured more than 10.6 million new voters.
He said the exercise had increased Nigeria’s National Register of Voters to 103 million registered citizens following the completion of data processing and synchronisation.
Amupitan also announced that nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would commence on Friday, October 9, 2026, urging online publishers to mobilise registered voters and provide accurate information about designated collection centres.
He stressed that the media had a critical responsibility to ensure eligible voters were adequately informed about the collection exercise and other activities on the electoral timetable.
On the deployment of technology, Amupitan highlighted upgrades to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the enhanced electronic EC8A system, designed to improve the electronic visibility of polling unit results.
He further disclosed that the Commission was deploying artificial intelligence-supported auditing mechanisms and strengthening its cyber-defence systems to protect electoral databases and critical infrastructure.
However, the INEC chairman cautioned that technology alone could not guarantee credible elections, stressing that public confidence must be earned through consistent and transparent implementation of the electoral process.
He said, “Electoral trust must be earned through consistent, verifiable and transparent implementation of the electoral process.”
Amupitan added that public confidence depended on strict compliance with electoral laws, effective logistics, internal discipline and transparent communication with citizens.
Addressing the growing influence of digital media on electoral credibility, he warned that fake news, unverified leaks, sensational reporting and AI-generated deepfakes could mislead voters and weaken confidence in democratic institutions.
He urged online publishers to exercise caution in their reporting, particularly when covering politically sensitive issues, electoral violence and developments capable of influencing public opinion.
The INEC chairman emphasised that responsible journalism was essential to ensuring voters received reliable information and could make informed decisions during the elections.
He also called for stronger collaboration between INEC and media organisations, noting that credible elections required the collective commitment of electoral authorities, political parties, civil society organisations and citizens.
Amupitan maintained that although technology could improve electoral transparency, its effectiveness depended on proper implementation, institutional accountability and public understanding of the electoral process.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to strengthening electoral preparedness ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging media organisations to promote factual reporting, counter misinformation and sustain voter education throughout the electoral cycle.