By Gabriel Ameh
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned journalists, broadcasters and online media practitioners against spreading fake news, misinformation and premature election results ahead of the Ekiti State Governorship Election scheduled for June 20, 2026.
The Commission warned that inaccurate reports, manipulated videos, misleading headlines and unverified polling unit results could threaten the peaceful conduct of the election and weaken public confidence in the democratic process.
The warning was issued on Tuesday during the INEC Media Stakeholders’ Forum held in Ado-Ekiti ahead of the governorship poll.
Representing 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, described the media as a key partner in safeguarding credible elections.
He expressed concern over the increasing circulation of false election information on social media and unverified online platforms.
According to him, media organisations must strengthen internal fact-checking mechanisms and ensure that all election-related information is verified through official INEC channels before publication or broadcast.
“We call on media executives to establish and activate fact-checking protocols. Reporters should verify information from official INEC sources before broadcasting or publishing,” he said.
Dr. Omoseyindemi also warned on-air personalities against amplifying unverified claims in the rush to break news, noting that sensational reporting could create panic, discourage voter participation and threaten peace.
“The media is not just an observer in the electoral process; it is a strategic partner in protecting democracy,” he added.
The REC disclosed that 64 media organisations had applied for accreditation to deploy about 560 journalists for election coverage, while the accreditation portal would close at midnight on June 7, 2026.
He urged media organisations yet to register to complete the process before the deadline.
Providing updates on election preparations, Omoseyindemi said the governorship election would take place across the 16 Local Government Areas, 117 wards and 2,445 polling units in Ekiti State, with 13 political parties participating in the poll.
He added that INEC had completed major preparatory activities, including the publication of the final list of candidates and the presentation of the final voter register to political parties.
The Commission, he said, would deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to enhance transparency in voter accreditation and result management.
He further revealed that non-sensitive election materials had largely been procured, while sensitive materials were at the final stage of production.
According to him, recruitment and screening of ad hoc staff had been completed, with training scheduled to begin soon.
The REC also announced that collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Ekiti State would begin at Registration Areas from June 4 to June 8 and continue at Local Government offices from June 9 to June 11, 2026.
Earlier, the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, said the stakeholders’ forum was organised to strengthen collaboration between INEC and the media ahead of the election.
She explained that the engagement aimed to provide accurate information on electoral procedures, technology deployment, operational guidelines and provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
In his goodwill message, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, 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, while urging journalists not to sacrifice accuracy for speed.
He 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 by 8:30 a.m. on election day.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ekiti State, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, said the union had introduced measures aimed at curbing fake news and promoting accountability among online journalists.
He assured INEC of the union’s commitment to ethical journalism and responsible election coverage.
The one-day forum featured media executives, editors, reporters and on-air personalities from across the state, alongside technical briefings from INEC departments on ICT deployment, electoral operations, legal services and election logistics.
