INEC Chair Urges Media to Combat Deepfake Disinformation

At the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) 2026 in Enugu, Enugu state, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, represented by Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Enugu state, cautioned media leaders about the dangers of declaring unofficial election results. He emphasized the need for rigorous fact-checking and digital verification to combat artificial intelligence-driven deepfakes, which pose a significant threat to public trust and democratic stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Amupitan's address, titled “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” highlighted how generative AI and deepfake technology enable the creation of deceptive content that can mislead the public and undermine electoral integrity. He urged media organizations to establish specialized fact-checking desks and adhere strictly to protocols requiring verification of election results through INEC before publication, warning that the rise of synthetic disinformation could lead to widespread skepticism and cynicism among voters.