INEC warns journalists against spreading fake election results ahead of 2027, urging verification and responsible reporting to protect public trust

The Independent National Electoral Commission has cautioned journalists against spreading unverified election results, manipulated content and misinformation capable of undermining public confidence in the 2027 general elections.

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The commission also said it was strengthening its technological infrastructure, cybersecurity and results management systems to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

Abia State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Sylvia Uchenna Agu, gave the warning on Wednesday at the 2026 Media Retreat and Press Week of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Abia State Council, held at Bishop Nwedo Pastoral Centre, Umuahia.

Speaking on the theme, “Safeguarding Electoral Integrity in the Digital Age: INEC and the Media Ahead of the 2027 General Elections”, Agu identified misinformation, disinformation, artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes, cloned voices and manipulated result sheets as emerging threats to electoral credibility.

She urged media organisations to prioritise verification over speed, warning that the pursuit of exclusive reports must not undermine national stability and public trust.

“The race to break the news must not break the nation,” the REC cautioned.

Agu advised journalists to cross-check election-related information with INEC before publishing or broadcasting, warning that failure to verify claims could damage the credibility of news organisations.

She also cautioned against declaring election results based on information from unauthorised sources, urging media practitioners not to become channels for spreading unverified figures.

The REC called on journalists to support voter education by explaining relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly those relating to voter accreditation, electronic transmission of results and transparency.

She said the legal framework had strengthened electoral safeguards through provisions requiring the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System for accreditation and electronic transmission of polling unit results to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal.

She also highlighted penalties for officials who deliberately frustrate the electronic transmission of results, saying the provisions were intended to strengthen transparency and accountability.

On the commission’s technological preparedness, Agu said INEC was building on lessons from previous elections to improve BVAS, IReV, the electronic EC8A and its Results Management System.

She explained that the electronic EC8A system was designed to identify discrepancies between manually completed polling unit result sheets and electronically captured results. Such inconsistencies, she said, would prevent uploads until they were resolved.

The REC recalled an alleged manipulation of voter accreditation figures in a local government area of Abia State during the 2023 general elections, which she said was exposed through BVAS.

According to Agu, the system recorded 27,000 accredited voters in the affected local government area, while the figure was allegedly altered manually to 102,000.

“BVAS was the game changer in 2023. It checkmated frivolous accreditations. It was BVAS that saved the situation in Abia because, in a particular LGA, BVAS captured 27,000 as accredited voters, but it was handwritten as 102,000.

“So, when the controversy came up, our ICT experts simply looked at the figure in IReV as captured by BVAS,” she said.

She said the incident demonstrated the importance of technology in detecting discrepancies and protecting the credibility of election results.

Agu urged Nigerians to maintain confidence in the commission, assuring them that INEC was improving its systems and processes ahead of the 2027 elections.

She said the commission was enhancing cybersecurity, protecting election data, improving system monitoring and strengthening disaster recovery mechanisms to ensure the reliability of its digital infrastructure.

The REC also disclosed that INEC was exploring the responsible use of artificial intelligence to improve planning, data analysis and operational efficiency, while maintaining human oversight and accountability.

However, she stressed that technology alone could not guarantee credible elections without adequate training, testing, operational preparedness and cooperation among relevant departments and officials.

Describing the media as a critical partner in the electoral process, Agu cited Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates the press to hold government accountable.

She urged journalists to balance their watchdog responsibilities with professional ethics, accuracy and responsible reporting, particularly as the country approaches another election cycle.

Agu said INEC remained committed to working with digital platforms to address demonstrably false electoral content and intensifying voter education through its official communication channels.

She expressed confidence that credible elections in 2027 would depend on the collective commitment of the commission, the media and other stakeholders to transparency, professionalism and the national interest.

The REC assured journalists of INEC’s continued openness to engagement and reiterated the commission’s commitment to conducting free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.

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More than 30 media practitioners participated in the retreat, organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of Abia NUJ to deepen democracy and improve journalistic efficiency.