By Hajara Abdullahi
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC Professor Joash Amupitan,has described misinformation as the greatest threat to the upcoming 2027 elections.
The INEC Chairman made the remark during a speech at the 81st General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) in Abuja,on Wednesday.
“In the 2027 general elections, the most dangerous weapon will not be a ballot-snatcher’s gun, but a smartphone-user’s lies amplified by an uncritical broadcast station,” he said.
Speaking on the crucial role the media plays in every democratic setting, Amupitan describes the press as “primary infrastructure of our democracy,” emphasizing the need by broadcasters to act orderly in the lead-up to the polls.
Citing the provision of the Electoral Act 2026,he said there are clusters designed to address such issues, including equal airtime for all political parties and penalties for defaulters.
Act mandates fairness and balance. You must provide a level playing field,” he added
Amupitan also acknowledged measures taken to limit last minute voter manipulation,including a mandatory 24-hour media blackout before election day.
However, he expressed concerns over ongoing challenges such as weak enforcement of regulations, the commercialisation of airtime, and the disproportionate media advantage enjoyed by incumbent political actors.
He added that hate speech, inflammatory content, or use of language capable of provoking religious or sectional tensions is highly criminalised and stiff penalties await violators.