INEC Seeks Patnership With Media Professionalism For Electoral Success

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is seeking patnership with media organisations, journalists and social media analysts by upholding ethical and professional standards in election reporting ahead of the 2027 General Elections, saying that misinformation, disinformation and inflammatory political narratives could undermine public confidence and threaten peaceful elections.

The call was made by the commission at a media engagement forum held at Hotel Sylvia, Enugu State, it organised for the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Institute of Social Media Analysts (NISMA), Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and media executives, with the theme, “Ethical and Professional Standards in Election Reporting Ahead of the 2027 General Elections.”

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Enugu State, Dr. Chukwuemeka J. Chukwu, while speaking at the event, represented by the Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, highlighted the media’s vital partnership and central role in promoting electoral integrity and sustaining public confidence in the electoral process.

The REC cautioned journalists against publishing unverified reports, particularly those concerning election results, incidents at polling units, electoral materials and technological processes, stressing that speculation should never be presented as fact.

He further urged media practitioners to give adequate attention to voter education, especially on Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection, voter accreditation, voting procedures, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), electronic transmission of results and peaceful participation.

Dr. Chukwu also stressed the importance of inclusive election reporting, urging the media to give adequate attention to women, young people and persons with disabilities in electoral discussions and reportage.

In his opening remarks, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, represented by the REC, highlighted the responsibility of the media in shaping public understanding of the electoral process, noting that public confidence in elections largely depended on the credibility and accuracy of information available to citizens.