11
INEC chairman warns online publishers against fake news, deepfakes
Says commission has no preferred candidate or political party
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that votes cast by the electorate will determine the winners of the 2027 general elections, declaring that it has no preferred candidate or political party.
The commission also urged online publishers and other media organisations to promote credible elections by prioritising accuracy, transparency and responsible reporting while resisting misinformation capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, gave the assurances on Thursday while delivering the keynote address at the 10th annual conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
The conference was themed, “2027 Elections: Trust, Transparency and Shared Responsibilities.”
Amupitan, who was represented by the Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Ayobami Salami, said the commission was committed to ensuring that the outcome of the 2027 elections reflected the freely expressed will of Nigerian voters.
“Let me tell you, on behalf of the commission, that in the 2027 election, by the grace of God, what will determine the winner would be the votes of Nigerians, and the will of Nigerians will prevail,” he said.
He added that INEC’s allegiance was to the Constitution, the law and the Nigerian people, insisting that the commission had no political preference or institutional interest beyond protecting the integrity of the ballot.
According to him, the credibility of the 2027 elections will depend not merely on the deployment of personnel and equipment but also on the transparency of the process, the credibility of the results and the collective commitment of stakeholders to safeguarding the sanctity of the ballot box.
AI deepfakes, misinformation pose threats
The INEC chairman identified the media, particularly online publishers, as critical stakeholders in the drive to deliver credible elections, warning that the growing sophistication of information manipulation posed a significant threat to the democratic process.
He said election periods were increasingly vulnerable to coordinated disinformation campaigns, politically motivated narratives, synthetic media and artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes designed to inflame public sentiment and erode confidence in democratic institutions.
He consequently urged journalists and publishers to confront information disorder, reject clickbait-driven practices and remain committed to truth and professional responsibility.
Amupitan warned that fake news, unverified leaks and sensationalised reports could destroy public trust, provoke unrest and discourage citizens from participating in elections.
“When an unverified claim regarding electoral fraud is published, the damage to public confidence is immediate and enduring; subsequent retractions or fact-checks rarely repair the injury,” he said.
He also cautioned against allowing the pressure to break news ahead of competitors to override accuracy.
“Being first with a false story is a costly failure; being accurate with a verified fact is a public service,” he stated.
Describing GOCOP members as an important link between the vast flow of online information and public understanding, Amupitan urged publishers to provide context and seek official confirmation when electoral logistics encounter difficulties, rather than prematurely portraying operational setbacks as evidence of systemic failure.
With the nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) scheduled to commence on Friday, October 9, 2026, he called on media leaders to support efforts to educate and mobilise registered voters.
“Let us write a definitive chapter of operational excellence, journalistic integrity, civic maturity, and unassailable institutional trust together,” he said.
INEC outlines preparations for 2027
Amupitan also outlined measures the commission said it had undertaken to strengthen its operational capacity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He listed the issuance of the revised timetable and schedule of activities for the elections on February 26, 2026, alongside grassroots preparations covering more than 176,000 polling units nationwide.
He further said INEC had conducted a three-phase Continuous Voter Registration exercise and completed the public display of the preliminary register of voters across registration areas to allow claims and objections.
According to him, the commission was finalising the generation of the official electronic register of voters for nationwide display while synchronising registration data through its Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) to detect and eliminate duplicate registrations.
He put the number of registered voters in the national register at 103 million.
The chairman also announced that the processing and printing of new voter cards had been completed using what he described as the commission’s newly introduced Printable PVC technology.
He urged GOCOP and other online publishers to use their platforms to educate registered voters across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory on how to collect their cards at designated local government offices and registration area centres.
BVAS, electronic transmission upgrades
On electoral technology, Amupitan said INEC had introduced hardware, software and operational improvements to strengthen the reliability of its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
He said the devices had undergone hardware optimisation, battery calibration and software upgrades, adding that a nationwide audit had been initiated to ensure they were functional and ready for deployment. The commission had also procured additional devices based on its operational needs, he stated.
He further highlighted an enhanced electronic result-transmission protocol, which he identified as eEC8A, saying it was designed to digitise polling-unit result sheets immediately after votes were counted.
According to him, the system enables scanned result sheets to be digitally signed and transmitted to the public viewing portal, improving transparency and reducing opportunities for manual alteration during the collation process.
The INEC chairman also said the commission had partnered with technology companies, including Google and Microsoft, to deploy artificial intelligence-assisted data-auditing tools and multiple layers of cybersecurity protection against intrusions, distributed denial-of-service attacks and unauthorised data injection.
Logistics, staff welfare and voter education
Amupitan identified logistical failures as a major threat to public confidence in elections, saying INEC had begun procuring and distributing non-sensitive electoral materials to its offices across the 36 states and the FCT.
He said the commission had also established a central operational schedule to monitor the movement of materials, storage security and vehicle locations in real time across state command centres.
On staff welfare, he said INEC had operationalised the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS), describing the measure as part of efforts to address financial vulnerabilities and reward staff commitment.
The commission was also intensifying public enlightenment through traditional media, digital platforms and grassroots communication networks, he added.
“Our voter education strategy focuses on demystifying voting procedures, accreditation requirements, BVAS mechanics, PVC collection workflows, and Election Day regulations. Crucially, this strategy incorporates customised outreach networks to ensure full inclusion,” he said.
The chairman urged media organisations to complement the commission’s preparations by helping voters understand electoral procedures, verify information and participate confidently in the democratic process.
Backgrounder
Nigeria’s 2027 general elections will test the ability of electoral institutions, political parties, security agencies, the media and citizens to sustain public confidence in the democratic process.
INEC’s preparations will be judged not only by the deployment of personnel and technology but also by the transparency of voter registration, the accessibility of voter cards, the conduct of polling officials, the timely arrival of electoral materials and the credibility of result collation and transmission.
For online publishers, the election presents a parallel challenge: delivering timely reports without amplifying false claims, manipulated videos or unverified allegations. As AI-generated content becomes increasingly convincing, effective verification and clear distinctions between confirmed facts, allegations and official responses will be essential.
Ultimately, the credibility of the 2027 elections will depend on the commission’s ability to demonstrate impartiality and competence, the willingness of political actors to respect electoral rules, and the collective determination of stakeholders to ensure that voters can freely express their choices.
