Nigeria’s electoral chief has issued a stark warning to the nation’s broadcasters, declaring that the integrity of the 2027 General Election rests on the media’s ability to remain a “sanctuary for truth” rather than a “megaphone for chaos.”Professor Joash Amupitan SAN, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), told a gathering of media executives on Wednesday that the primary threat to credible polls has shifted from physical violence to the “rapid spread of false information.”Speaking at the 81st General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), Prof. Amupitan warned that unverified broadcasts could destabilise the country.
Fairness is not a discretion
With Nigeria now counting 22 registered political parties, the Chairman reminded broadcasters that the Electoral Act 2026 mandates equal access to airwaves for all contenders.”Fairness in airtime allocation and coverage is a legal requirement, not a matter of discretion,” he said, taking aim at the perceived “incumbency advantage” often seen in state-owned media. He warned that the commercialisation of political airtime risks silencing smaller parties and tilting the playing field. The Chairman also highlighted several “red lines” for the upcoming cycle:
Hate Speech: A total ban on inflammatory language that could incite ethnic or religious tension.
The ‘Cooling-Off’ Period: A strict 24-hour blackout on all political campaigning before Election Day to allow voters “quiet reflection.”
Verification: A plea for stations to prioritise fact-checking over the race for “breaking news” profit.
A digital battleground
While acknowledging the constitutional right to freedom of expression, the INEC chief argued that because airwaves are a “public resource,” they must be used responsibly.He admitted, however, that monitoring the airwaves has become increasingly difficult. The “convergence” of traditional TV and radio with digital social media platforms has created regulatory overlaps and enforcement gaps that the Commission is now working to bridge alongside the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
Call for transparency
To safeguard the 2027 vote, Prof. Amupitan called for:
Full disclosure of sponsorship and pricing for all political adverts, clearer legal definitions of what constitutes “equal access” and direct collaboration with INEC’s official spokespersons to verify electoral data.”
The credibility of the 2027 General Election will depend not only on logistics and technology,” Prof. Amupitan concluded, “but on the integrity of the information environment.”
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