Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has cautioned online publishers against sensational reporting, warning that fake news and unverified claims could undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process and worsen voter apathy ahead of the 2027 elections.
Amupitan delivered the warning on Thursday at the 10th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Lagos.
Represented by Lagos Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Ayobami Salami, the INEC chairman spoke on the conference theme, “2027 Elections: Trust, Transparency and Shared Responsibilities.”
He stressed that the media plays a crucial role in shaping public perception of elections, noting that inaccurate or misleading reports can have long-lasting consequences for democratic institutions.
According to Amupitan, allegations of electoral fraud published without verification often cause irreversible damage to public trust, even when later disproved.
He warned that elections across West Africa are increasingly threatened by misinformation campaigns, artificial intelligence-generated content, deepfakes and narratives designed to inflame ethnic tensions and undermine confidence in democratic institutions.
The INEC chairman urged online publishers to prioritise accuracy over speed and resist the temptation to publish clickbait headlines or unverified reports.
He also called for responsible reporting of election-day challenges, warning that isolated incidents should not be portrayed as evidence of widespread electoral failure without proper verification.
Amupitan proposed a three-point partnership between INEC and GOCOP, including enhanced digital fact-checking mechanisms, stronger editorial safeguards against the publication of unverified election results and a nationwide voter education campaign.
He described online publishers as critical custodians of democratic narratives and urged them to use their platforms to promote voter education, encourage PVC collection and strengthen public understanding of the electoral process.
According to him, a collaborative approach between INEC, the media and other stakeholders is essential to building public trust and ensuring credible elections in 2027.
