Prof. Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has cautioned online publishers about sensational reporting. He stated that fake news, unverified claims, and exaggerated stories could erode public trust in elections and lead to increased voter apathy. Amupitan shared this warning on Thursday in Lagos during the 10th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP).
The conference, themed “2027 Elections: Trust, Transparency and Shared Responsibilities,” gathered online publishers, editors, media professionals, election stakeholders, civil society groups, and academics. Amupitan emphasized that the media plays a vital role in shaping how people view the electoral process. He warned that inaccurate reporting could have long-lasting effects beyond just the news cycle.
Amupitan noted that unverified claims of election fraud could seriously damage public trust in the electoral process, even if those claims are later corrected. He encouraged online publishers to focus on accuracy instead of rushing to release stories before their competitors. He also asked the media to give enough context when reporting on challenges faced during elections.
The INEC chairman proposed a three-part partnership with GOCOP, including dedicated digital fact-checking, stronger self-regulation in publishing unverified election results, and a national effort for voter education. He referred to online publishers as “primary storytellers and guardians” of Nigeria’s democracy, urging them to use their platforms to help the public understand the electoral process better.
Amupitan mentioned that INEC is improving its systems as it prepares for the 2027 general elections, including using artificial intelligence for data auditing and cyber defense in collaboration with Google and Microsoft. The national voter register has grown to about 103 million registered voters after completing the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
The nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) is set to start on Thursday. Amupitan emphasized that the commission is dedicated to holding transparent elections and urged all stakeholders, including the media, to acknowledge their role in fostering public trust in the electoral process.
INEC has started early procurement and distribution of non-sensitive electoral materials to its 36 state offices and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The commission has also acquired new operational pick-up vehicles and begun distributing them to state offices and LGAs to tackle transportation issues in challenging areas.
Key points
- Prof. Joash Amupitan warns online publishers about sensational reporting and its potential to erode public trust in elections.
- INEC proposes a three-part partnership with GOCOP to enhance election reporting and voter education.
- The national voter register has grown to about 103 million registered voters after completing the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
