Gloria Robert, Abuja
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has warned that misinformation spread through media could pose the greatest threat to Nigeria’s 2027 general election.
Speaking at the 81st general assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) in Abuja on Wednesday, Amupitan said elections are increasingly being decided in the “information space,” stressing the critical role of broadcasters in safeguarding democracy.
Describing the airwaves as “the primary infrastructure of our democracy,” the INEC boss cautioned that misinformation, hate speech, and unequal media access could undermine the will of voters.
“In the 2027 General Election, 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 said.
Amupitan highlighted sections of the Electoral Act 2026 designed to curb these risks, including mandatory equal airtime for political parties and strict penalties for breaches.
“The Act mandates fairness and balance. You must provide a level playing field,” he added.
He noted that media organisations failing to provide equal airtime could face fines of up to N5 million, while individual officers risk imprisonment. The law also enforces a 24-hour media blackout before election day to prevent last-minute voter manipulation.
The INEC chairman further explained that the Act criminalises hate speech and content likely to inflame religious, ethnic, tribal, or sectional tensions.
Despite these safeguards, Amupitan acknowledged persistent challenges, including weak enforcement, commercialisation of airtime, and media dominance by well-funded political actors.
“Political actors with greater financial resources dominate broadcast space, undermining equal access,” he said.
To close these gaps, he called for stronger collaboration between INEC, BON, security agencies, and the judiciary, along with higher editorial standards within media houses.
“Fact-check in real-time, mobilise voters’ turnout, and choose professionalism over profit. Elections are no longer just contested at the polling units; they are contested in the information space,” Amupitan added.
