The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan, on Wednesday warned that misinformation amplified by 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, he pointed out that elections are increasingly being decided in the “information space,” making the role of broadcasters critical to democratic integrity.
The INEC chairman gave a stark warning on the dangers of misinformation, stating, “In the 2027 General Election, the most dangerous weapon will not be a ballot-snatcher’s gun, but a smartphone-user’s lie amplified by an uncritical broadcast station.”
He cautioned against inflammatory political messaging, citing the law, which states that “a political campaign or slogan shall not be tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings.”
Amupitan described the airwaves as “the primary infrastructure of our democracy,” and warned that misinformation, hate speech, and unequal access to media platforms could undermine the will of the electorate.
He noted that the growing influence of broadcast platforms has made it central to political communication. “Your airwaves have become the primary infrastructure of our democracy. If they are clear, the nation sees the truth; if they are clouded by misinformation, the sovereign will of the people is threatened,” he said.
While acknowledging the reforms introduced by the Electoral Act 2026, the INEC chairman raised concerns over enforcement gaps, regulatory overlap, and the growing influence of digital media, warning that these challenges could undermine the effectiveness of the legal framework.
