The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned journalists, broadcasters and online media practitioners against the spread of fake news, misinformation and premature declaration of election results ahead of the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026.
The Commission warned that inaccurate reporting, manipulated videos, misleading headlines and unverified polling unit results could threaten the peaceful conduct of the election and erode public confidence in the democratic process.
INEC issued the warning on Tuesday during the Media Stakeholders’ Forum held in Ado-Ekiti for media executives, reporters, producers and on-air personalities ahead of the poll.
Speaking on behalf of the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, described the media as a critical partner in safeguarding the credibility of elections.
He expressed concern over the increasing circulation of false election-related information on social media and unverified online platforms.
According to him, media organisations must strengthen internal verification mechanisms to prevent the dissemination of false reports capable of inciting tension during the election period.
“We call on media executives to establish and activate fact-checking protocols. We call on reporters to verify information from official INEC sources before broadcasting or publishing,” he said.
Omoseyindemi also cautioned broadcasters and on-air personalities against amplifying unverified claims in the rush to break news, warning that sensational reporting could trigger panic, discourage voter participation and undermine peace in the state.
“The media is not just an observer in the electoral process; the media is a strategic partner in safeguarding democracy,” he added.
The REC disclosed that 64 media organisations had applied for accreditation to deploy about 560 journalists for election coverage, noting that the accreditation portal would automatically close by midnight on June 7, 2026.
He urged media houses that were yet to complete the process to take advantage of the remaining application window.
Providing updates on the Commission’s level of preparedness, Omoseyindemi said the governorship election would be conducted across the 16 local government areas, 117 wards and 2,445 polling units in Ekiti State, with 13 political parties expected to participate.
He further disclosed that INEC had substantially completed major preparatory activities, including the publication of the final list of candidates and the presentation of the final voter register to political parties.
According to him, the Commission would deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to enhance transparency in voter accreditation and result management during the election.
The REC added that non-sensitive election materials had largely been procured, while sensitive materials were already at the final production stage. He also said recruitment and screening of ad hoc staff had been concluded, with training expected to commence shortly.
On voter participation, Omoseyindemi announced that collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would begin at the ward level from June 4 to June 8 and continue at local government offices between June 9 and June 11, 2026.
The Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, explained that the forum was organised to strengthen collaboration between INEC and the media ahead of the election.
She noted that the engagement was designed to provide journalists with accurate information on electoral procedures, technology deployment, operational guidelines and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
In his goodwill message, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Adedayo Oketola, described fake news and information manipulation as major threats to peaceful elections.
“The greatest threat to a peaceful election today is often not physical violence, but information pollution,” he said.
Oketola urged journalists not to sacrifice accuracy for speed in the competition to break stories, stressing that credibility remained the foundation of responsible journalism.
He also revealed that seven out of the nine activities contained in the Commission’s election timetable had already been completed, adding that INEC was working towards simultaneous opening of all 2,445 polling units in the state by 8:30 a.m. on Election Day.
Also speaking at the forum, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State Council, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, said the union had introduced measures to curb fake news and promote accountability among online journalists in the state.
He assured INEC of the union’s commitment to ethical journalism and responsible election coverage.
The one-day forum featured technical briefings by INEC officials from the ICT, Electoral Operations and Legal Services departments on the deployment of BVAS, IReV, election logistics and provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
