Olayiwola Matthew
Joash Amupitan, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has warned that misinformation amplified by the 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,” making the role of broadcasters critical to democratic integrity.
The INEC chairman described the airwaves as “the primary infrastructure of our democracy.” He warned that misinformation, hate speech, and unequal access to media platforms could undermine the will of the electorate.
“In the 2027 General Election, the most dangerous weapon will not be a ballot-snatcher’s gun, but a smartphone-user’s lies amplified by an uncritical broadcast station,” he said.
He highlighted provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 aimed at addressing these risks, including mandatory equal airtime for political parties and strict penalties for violations.
“The Act mandates fairness and balance. You must provide a level playing field,” Amupitan said.
He said under the law, media organisations that fail to allocate equal airtime risk fines of up to N5 million, while individual officers could face imprisonment.
Amupitan also highlighted restrictions on political messaging, including a 24-hour “media blackout” before election day to prevent last-minute manipulation of voters.
He said the act further criminalises hate speech and inciting content, requiring campaigns to avoid “abusive language likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings”.
The INEC chairman said despite these provisions, persistent challenges, including weak enforcement, commercialisation of airtime, and the dominance of incumbents in media coverage.
He noted that “political actors with greater financial resources dominate broadcast space,” undermining the principle of equal access.
To address these gaps, Amupitan called for closer collaboration between INEC, BON, security agencies, and the judiciary, alongside stronger editorial standards within media organisations.
“Fact-check in real-time, mobilise voters’ turnout and choose professionalism over profit,” he said.
“Elections are no longer just contested at the polling units; they are contested in the information space.”
