By Simpson Global Media News Desk
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for stronger collaboration with Nigerian online publishers to combat election-related misinformation, improve voter education and strengthen public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, made the appeal on Thursday, October 8, 2026, through the Lagos Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Ayobami Salami, while delivering his keynote address at the 10th annual conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Lagos.
The conference, themed “2027 Elections: Trust, Transparency and Shared Responsibilities,” brought together publishers, editors, academics, civil society representatives and other stakeholders to discuss the responsibilities of institutions and citizens as preparations for the next general elections intensify.
Amupitan warned that fake news, unverified claims, sensational headlines and digitally manipulated content could damage public confidence in the electoral process and discourage participation.
He urged publishers to verify election-related information before publication, particularly allegations of electoral fraud, claims about polling-unit results and reports concerning the commission’s operational activities.
The commission also proposed closer cooperation with GOCOP on digital fact-checking, editorial accountability and voter education. The discussions come as INEC moves from planning towards more intensive operational preparations for the elections scheduled for January and February 2027. <Cite refs={["turn504231search5","turn504231search9","turn504231search13"]} />
A shared responsibility for credible elections
The conference placed responsibility for credible elections beyond the electoral commission alone.
GOCOP President, Danlami Nmodu, said the conduct of political parties, government institutions, journalists and citizens would all influence the credibility of the electoral process.
He urged politicians to prioritise public welfare and called on journalists to report facts fairly while scrutinising both the government and opposition parties.
Nmodu also linked the quality of democratic participation to wider national conditions, including insecurity and the economic challenges confronting Nigerians. He said improved security and a more supportive environment for economic activity were important to enabling people to work, invest and participate in public life.
The conference organisers said the theme reflected the need for trust in institutions, transparent electoral procedures and a clearer understanding of the responsibilities shared by the different participants in an election.
The emphasis on shared responsibility is significant because the election process involves several stages before voters reach polling stations. These include voter registration, party primaries, candidate nomination, campaign activities, voter education, polling-day administration, result transmission and the resolution of disputes.
Failures or perceived weaknesses at any of these stages can generate controversy and undermine confidence.
For INEC, the challenge is to ensure that its decisions are lawful, its procedures are communicated clearly and operational problems are addressed in a way that can be independently scrutinised. Political parties must comply with electoral laws, while media organisations need to distinguish verified information from allegations and commentary.
Voters, meanwhile, need access to reliable information that allows them to understand the process and make informed decisions.
INEC warns against sensational reporting
Amupitan’s warning focused on the potential consequences of publishing unverified election-related claims.
Information can circulate rapidly online, particularly when it concerns alleged electoral irregularities, disputed results or claims about the conduct of public officials. When such claims are published without sufficient verification, they can spread before the facts are established.
A correction issued later may not reach everyone who saw the original report. As a result, inaccurate information can continue to influence public perceptions even after it has been challenged.
The INEC chairman urged publishers to resist pressure to be first at the expense of accuracy. He also warned against clickbait headlines, exaggerated accounts and unverified leaks that could create a misleading impression of electoral events.
The concern is not that all criticism of INEC should be avoided. Electoral authorities, like other public institutions, must remain open to scrutiny. Journalists and citizens have legitimate reasons to ask questions about delays, logistics, technology, security and the application of electoral laws.
The distinction is between reporting a concern that has been properly investigated and presenting an unverified allegation as an established fact.
For example, a report about a delayed opening of a polling unit should establish what happened, where it occurred, whether the problem was resolved and what officials or observers said. It should not automatically turn an isolated incident into a claim about the entire election without evidence.
Similarly, allegations of result manipulation require careful examination of documents, statements and other available evidence. A claim circulating on social media should not be treated as confirmed merely because it has attracted substantial engagement.
Amupitan urged media organisations to seek verification from INEC and other credible sources when reporting technical problems, security incidents and claims of electoral misconduct. <Cite refs={["turn504231search5","turn504231search8","turn504231search9"]} />
Proposed digital fact-checking partnership
One of the key proposals discussed at the conference was closer cooperation between INEC and GOCOP to help journalists verify election-related information.
According to reports of Amupitan’s address, the proposed partnership would include a dedicated digital fact-verification arrangement through which publishers could seek clarification on field reports, security incidents and technical issues.
The aim is to create a more direct route for checking claims before they are published, particularly during periods when information is moving quickly and public attention is high.
A reliable verification arrangement could help journalists establish whether an incident has been reported to the commission, whether an operational problem is being investigated and whether an official statement or document has been accurately represented.
However, the effectiveness of such a system would depend on its accessibility and responsiveness. Journalists would need to know how to submit questions, how quickly they could expect answers and how to proceed when the commission could not immediately confirm a claim.
The process would also need to preserve editorial independence. Verification should help reporters test information, not prevent legitimate scrutiny or require journalists to accept official explanations without examining other evidence.
INEC’s proposal therefore presents an opportunity for practical cooperation, provided the arrangement is transparent and allows journalists to continue investigating matters of public interest.
The commission and media organisations would also need to explain the limits of the system. An official response can provide important evidence, but independent reporting may still be necessary to establish what happened, particularly when claims involve the conduct of public officials or electoral personnel.
Editorial accountability and unofficial results
The second element of the proposed partnership concerns editorial self-regulation.
Amupitan urged publishers to strengthen their internal standards and take action against the dissemination of unverified polling-unit results, altered result sheets and speculative commentary presented in ways that could mislead the public.
The concern reflects the speed at which unofficial election information can spread through websites, social media accounts and messaging platforms.
During elections, photographs of result sheets, videos from polling stations and claims about vote totals may be shared before the relevant officials have completed the required processes. Some material may be genuine but incomplete; other material may be old, taken from another location or altered.
Responsible reporting requires journalists to establish the origin of such material, confirm the relevant polling unit and determine whether the information has been authenticated.
It is also important to distinguish between a projection, an observer’s preliminary account, an unofficial tally and a result formally declared by the authorised electoral officer.
These categories are not interchangeable. Publishing them as though they carry the same status can confuse voters and encourage premature conclusions.
The conference also raised questions about the legal and professional implications of publishing exit polls and election projections. Former Nigerian Bar Association president Olisa Agbakoba called for legal scrutiny of the issue, including the relationship between electoral law and the constitutional right to receive and impart information. <Cite refs={["turn318631view0","turn504231search5"]} />
The issue requires careful consideration. Media organisations need to understand the applicable law, the evidentiary basis of any projection and the distinction between analysis and an official declaration.
At the same time, editorial standards should be applied consistently. Accuracy and transparency matter whether a report concerns the ruling party, an opposition party, the electoral commission or another public institution.
Voter education ahead of PVC collection
INEC also asked online publishers to help educate voters about the collection of newly printed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The commission announced that nationwide collection would begin on Friday, October 9, 2026, following the completion of the relevant registration and processing stages.
At the conference, Amupitan said the national register had reached approximately 103 million registered voters after the continuous voter registration exercise and subsequent data processing. He urged publishers to direct eligible voters towards the designated collection centres and communicate official information about the process. <Cite refs={["turn318631view0","turn504231search13"]} />
Voter education is an important part of electoral administration because registration alone does not ensure that every eligible voter is ready to participate.
Citizens need to know where and when they can collect their cards, what identification or documentation may be required and how to obtain assistance if they encounter difficulties.
Media organisations can help by publishing clear instructions and correcting inaccurate claims about the collection process. They can also direct audiences to official INEC announcements rather than relying on forwarded messages or unverified social media posts.
The challenge is to ensure that information reaches people in different circumstances. Some voters may rely on online news websites, while others may depend on radio, community organisations or information shared by local officials.
Digital publishers can contribute to this effort, but they are one part of a wider voter-education network.
Technology and electoral preparedness
INEC’s preparations also include upgrades to electoral technology and steps intended to improve the security and reliability of its systems.
Amupitan said the commission had upgraded its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices and commenced nationwide audits to assess their readiness for deployment.
He also described measures intended to improve electronic transmission of polling-unit results and strengthen cybersecurity around electoral databases.
The commission has said it is using artificial-intelligence-assisted data-auditing tools and other security measures, including firewalls, to help protect its systems. These measures form part of a broader effort to improve the reliability of electoral records and reduce exposure to cyber threats. <Cite refs={["turn318631view0","turn504231search10"]} />
Technology can support election administration, but its presence does not remove the need for clear procedures, trained personnel and independent scrutiny.
Electronic systems must be tested, maintained and deployed consistently. Electoral officials must understand how to operate the equipment and how to respond when technical difficulties arise.
The public also needs clear explanations of what the technology does and what its limitations are. Without that understanding, even routine technical problems can generate confusion, particularly when inaccurate claims spread quickly online.
INEC’s ability to demonstrate that systems have been tested and that problems are addressed transparently will therefore remain important to public confidence.
Media organisations also have a responsibility to explain technology accurately. A technical failure at one location should be investigated and reported in context, rather than automatically being treated as evidence that all systems have failed.
Equally, assurances that technology is secure should not be a substitute for scrutiny. Independent questions about testing, transparency and accountability remain legitimate parts of democratic oversight.
INEC says authorised officers must declare results
The conference also addressed the authority to declare election results.
Amupitan stressed that the Constitution assigns the responsibility for formally declaring and returning election results to constitutionally authorised returning officers.
Other individuals and organisations may offer opinions, analyses or projections, but these should not be confused with official declarations.
The distinction is important because the circulation of unofficial results can create uncertainty before the legally required process is complete.
Journalists may report results as they emerge, provided they accurately describe their status and source. They must also be careful not to present projections or incomplete tallies as final outcomes.
Clear explanations of the declaration process can help audiences understand why different figures may circulate during collation and why the authorised announcement carries a different legal status from a media estimate.
The issue is particularly relevant in an online environment where a photograph, video or numerical claim can be shared widely without its original context.
INEC’s call for responsible reporting is therefore connected to a broader need for the public to understand how results are verified, collated and formally declared.
Political parties must explain their policies
While INEC’s address focused heavily on election administration and information integrity, GOCOP’s leadership also called on political parties and candidates to concentrate on policies affecting citizens’ welfare.
Nmodu urged politicians to put the interests of Nigerians first, while conference chairman Olisa Agbakoba challenged presidential candidates to explain their positions on issues such as fuel pricing, crude oil and subsidy policy.
The questions reflect the economic pressures that are likely to feature in political debate ahead of the 2027 elections.
Voters need opportunities to compare candidates’ stated positions, understand proposed policies and examine how those proposals might be implemented and funded.
Political communication that focuses exclusively on party defections, personalities or campaign rivalries may leave important policy questions unexplored.
Journalists can contribute by asking candidates to explain what they would change, what they would retain and how they would measure the results of their policies. They can also compare public statements with available evidence and records, while making clear when information is incomplete or contested.
This does not mean that political reporting should ignore party developments. Changes in political alliances, candidate selection and internal party disputes can be important news. The wider point raised at the conference was that citizens also need sustained coverage of the policies that affect their daily lives.
Security and the conditions for participation
Security remains another concern as Nigeria prepares for the next general elections.
Nmodu called on the government to intensify efforts to address insecurity, arguing that a safer environment would support work, investment and economic activity.
Election security involves protecting voters, candidates, campaign workers, electoral personnel and election materials. It also requires measures to prevent intimidation and ensure that people can participate without threats or violence.
Security agencies, electoral officials, political parties and community leaders all have roles to play in reducing risks.
Reports about threats or incidents should be handled carefully. The public needs timely information, but inaccurate reports can create unnecessary alarm or expose individuals to danger.
At the same time, genuine security concerns must not be minimised. Transparent reporting can help communities understand what authorities are doing and what practical steps voters should take.
Media organisations need to verify claims about incidents and distinguish confirmed information from rumours. Authorities, for their part, need to communicate clearly enough to prevent information gaps from being filled by speculation.
What the conference means for the 2027 election cycle
The GOCOP conference did not remove the practical challenges facing INEC, political parties or journalists. Instead, it brought several of those challenges into a common discussion: public trust, electoral transparency, the role of digital media and the responsibilities of institutions and citizens.
The commission’s proposals for fact-checking cooperation and voter education will require follow-through to become operational arrangements. Publishers will need to decide how to implement stronger verification procedures, while political parties and public institutions will need to communicate in ways that allow claims to be checked.
Voters will also need reliable information about registration records, PVC collection, election procedures and the distinction between unofficial reports and formal declarations.
The conference’s emphasis on shared responsibility is therefore a call for practical work rather than a guarantee of any particular election outcome.
The test will be implementation
As the 2027 general elections approach, the central challenge will be turning calls for trust and transparency into visible practice.
For INEC, that means implementing electoral procedures consistently, communicating important decisions clearly, preparing equipment and personnel, and responding to credible questions about the process.
For political parties, it means complying with the law, conducting their activities peacefully and giving voters meaningful information about their programmes.
For the media, it means investigating claims, checking evidence, correcting mistakes and avoiding headlines that misrepresent what is known.
For citizens, it means seeking reliable information, participating in the electoral process and treating unverified claims with caution.
No single institution can guarantee public confidence on its own. Trust develops when people can examine how decisions are made, understand the rules and see that complaints are addressed through credible processes.
The GOCOP conference has placed these responsibilities at the centre of the conversation ahead of the next election cycle. Whether the proposed cooperation improves public understanding will depend on the practical steps taken in the months ahead.
With PVC collection scheduled to begin and operational preparations continuing, INEC and its partners face an immediate task: ensuring that Nigerians receive accurate, accessible information about how to participate.
The broader test will come as election activity intensifies, when transparency, responsible communication and respect for the law will be essential to helping voters make informed decisions and to sustaining confidence in the democratic process.
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