INEC Warns Journalists Against Fake News, Premature Election Results Ahead of Ekiti Poll
Oru Leonard
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 June 20, 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State.
The warning was issued on Tuesday during the INEC Media Stakeholders’ Forum held in Ado-Ekiti, where media executives, editors, reporters and on-air personalities gathered to discuss responsible election coverage 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 (REC) for Ekiti State, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, said fake news, manipulated videos and unverified polling unit figures could threaten the peaceful conduct of elections and erode public trust in democracy.
He urged media organisations to strengthen fact-checking mechanisms and ensure that all election-related information was verified through official INEC channels before publication or broadcast.
“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 warned that sensational and inaccurate reporting could create panic, discourage voter turnout and undermine peace during the electoral process.
“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 already applied for accreditation to deploy about 560 journalists for the election, while the accreditation portal would close automatically at midnight on June 7, 2026.
He noted that the election would be conducted across the 16 Local Government Areas, 117 Registration Areas/Wards and 2,445 Polling Units in the state, with 13 political parties participating.
According to him, INEC had substantially completed critical preparatory activities, including publication of the final list of candidates and presentation of the final register of voters to political parties.
He added that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) would be deployed to ensure transparency in voter accreditation and result management.
Omoseyindemi further disclosed that non-sensitive election materials had largely been procured, while sensitive materials were at the final stage of production. He also said recruitment and screening of ad hoc staff had been completed, with training expected to commence shortly.
The REC announced that collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Ekiti State would take place at Registration Areas from June 4 to June 8, and continue at Local Government offices from June 9 to June 11, 2026.
Speaking at the forum, Victoria Eta-Messi, Director of Voter Education and Publicity, said the engagement was organised to deepen collaboration between INEC and the media ahead of the election.
She explained that the forum aimed to provide accurate information on electoral procedures, technology deployment, operational guidelines and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
In a goodwill message, Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, 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, stressing that journalists must never sacrifice accuracy for speed.
Oketola also disclosed that seven out of the nine activities on 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, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Ekiti State, Kayode Babatuyi, said the union had introduced measures to curb fake news and improve accountability among online journalists.
He assured the Commission of the union’s commitment to ethical journalism and responsible election coverage.
The one-day forum also featured technical briefings from INEC’s ICT, Electoral Operations and Legal Services departments on deployment of the BVAS, the IReV portal, operational logistics and provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
