The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has warned that misinformation amplified by the media may pose the greatest threat to Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the 81st general assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) in Abuja, Amupitan said elections are increasingly being influenced in the “information space,” making the role of broadcasters crucial to safeguarding democracy.
He described the media as the “primary infrastructure of democracy” and cautioned that the spread of false information, hate speech, and unequal media access could undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
According to him, “the most dangerous weapon” in the 2027 elections may not be physical violence, but misinformation spread by individuals and amplified by media platforms.
Amupitan also highlighted provisions in the Electoral Act 2026 designed to curb such risks. These include mandatory equal airtime for all political parties and penalties for media organisations that fail to comply. Offending organisations could face fines of up to ₦5 million, while responsible officials may be subject to imprisonment.
He further noted restrictions such as a 24-hour media blackout before election day, aimed at preventing last-minute voter manipulation. The law also prohibits hate speech and inflammatory content that could incite ethnic, religious, or sectional tensions.
Despite these measures, the INEC chairman acknowledged ongoing challenges, including weak enforcement, the commercialisation of airtime, and the dominance of well-funded political actors in media coverage.
To address these issues, Amupitan called for stronger collaboration between INEC, media organisations, security agencies, and the judiciary. He also urged broadcasters to uphold professional standards by prioritising fact-checking and fairness over profit.
“Elections are no longer only contested at polling units,” he said, “they are now fought in the information space.”
