INEC Chairman Amupitan Addresses Misinformation Threats

INEC Chairman Amupitan spoke on Wednesday during the 81st General Assembly broadcast in Abuja, highlighting the significant threat posed by misinformation and disinformation to the credibility of Nigeria's 2027 general elections. He underscored the media's crucial role in democracy and warned that unchecked misinformation could distort electoral outcomes and undermine public trust.

Amupitan pointed to the provisions in the Electoral Act 2026, which aim to regulate media conduct during elections, including penalties for non-compliance, such as fines of N5 million and potential imprisonment. He also noted the challenges posed by commercialized airtime favoring wealthy political actors, which could undermine fair access to media.

Amidst these concerns, Amupitan called for stronger collaboration between INEC, security agencies, and the judiciary, urging media organizations to prioritize accuracy over financial gain. His remarks came as opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, protested against him, accusing him of undermining the chances of a fair election in 2027.