The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned journalists against amplifying inflammatory political slogans, particularly “rig and die”, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Commission said such expressions could endanger electoral officials, voters, party agents and observers, while urging media organisations to promote responsible election reporting and tackle misinformation.
INEC gave the warning during a media engagement forum organised for the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Institute of Social Media Analysts (NISMA), Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and media executives in Enugu State.
The event, held at Hotel Sylvia, had the theme, “Ethical and Professional Standards in Election Reporting Ahead of the 2027 General Elections.”
Speaking at the forum, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu State, Dr. Chukwuemeka J. Chukwu, who represented the Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, described the media as a strategic partner in the electoral process.
He identified information dissemination, voter education, public enlightenment and accountability as key responsibilities through which journalists could strengthen electoral integrity and public confidence.
Chukwu cautioned media practitioners against publishing unverified information, particularly reports concerning election results, polling unit incidents, electoral materials and technological processes.
He maintained that speculation must never be presented as fact, urging journalists to exercise caution in handling sensitive election-related developments.
The REC also called for increased media attention to voter education, particularly Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection, accreditation procedures, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), electronic transmission of results and peaceful participation.
On inclusive reporting, he urged media organisations to ensure adequate representation of women, young people and persons with disabilities in electoral discussions.
In his remarks, Haruna warned that inflammatory political expressions could threaten the safety of electoral stakeholders, urging journalists to provide appropriate context when reporting such developments.
He also encouraged political actors to pursue electoral grievances through lawful channels rather than resorting to provocative rhetoric.
The National Commissioner called on media organisations to investigate and expose vote buying, support voter education and intensify efforts against disinformation, including deepfakes and fake social media accounts.
Presenting the objectives of the engagement on behalf of the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, the Deputy Director of Information and Publicity, Mr. Wilfred Ifogah, said the forum was designed to strengthen cooperation between INEC and media practitioners ahead of the elections.
He explained that the engagement would promote accuracy, fairness, impartiality and verification in election reporting while improving journalists’ understanding of the Electoral Act 2026 and the Commission’s electoral technologies.
Ifogah identified BVAS and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) as areas requiring better media understanding to ensure accurate public information.
He urged media organisations to establish dedicated election desks, strengthen editorial guidelines and introduce fact-checking mechanisms before the 2027 electoral cycle.
The deputy director also advised journalists and social media analysts to verify election-related information through INEC’s official communication channels before publication.
He warned against announcing election results before their official declaration by Returning Officers and urged media practitioners to avoid promoting violent expressions capable of endangering lives.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the NUJ in Enugu State, Comrade Obinna Ogbuka, acknowledged the mistrust surrounding INEC and called on journalists to promote accurate information and balanced accounts of the Commission’s activities.
Ogbuka also appealed to the electoral body to sustain its training and capacity-building programmes for journalists, stressing the need to equip practitioners with the necessary knowledge and skills for responsible election coverage.
The engagement featured presentations by the heads of the Commission’s Legal, Information and Communication Technology/Voter Registration (ICT/VR), and Electoral Operations departments.
The resource persons addressed legal, technological and operational issues surrounding election administration, providing participants with further insight into the Electoral Act 2026 and procedures ahead of the 2027 polls.
Participants also had opportunities to seek clarification and make recommendations on electoral administration, technology and election-day operations.
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