By John Attah
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned journalists against publishing fake election results, manipulated content and artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that accuracy and verification must take precedence over the race to break news.
The Commission also disclosed that it was strengthening its technological infrastructure, cybersecurity systems and election result management processes to safeguard the integrity of the forthcoming polls.
Abia State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Sylvia Uchenna Agu, gave the warning on Wednesday at the 2026 Media Retreat and Press Week organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Council, at Bishop Nwedo Pastoral Centre, Umuahia.
Speaking on the theme, “Safeguarding Electoral Integrity in the Digital Age: INEC and the Media Ahead of the 2027 General Elections,” Agu identified misinformation, disinformation, AI-generated deepfakes, cloned voices and manipulated result sheets as emerging threats to electoral credibility.
She urged media organisations to resist the pressure to break election news ahead of competitors without first establishing its authenticity.
“The race to break the news must not break the nation,” the REC cautioned, warning that irresponsible reporting could undermine public confidence, fuel tension and threaten national stability.
Agu advised journalists to cross-check election-related information with INEC before broadcasting or publishing, stressing that unverified reports could damage the credibility of media organisations and mislead the electorate.
She particularly warned against declaring election results based on information from unauthorised sources, urging media practitioners not to become channels for spreading fabricated or prematurely announced results.
The REC also charged journalists to intensify voter education by explaining relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, particularly those relating to voter accreditation, electronic transmission of results and transparency in the electoral process.
On the Commission’s technological preparedness, Agu said INEC was building on lessons from previous elections to strengthen the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), electronic EC8A and its Results Management System.
She explained that the electronic EC8A system was designed to identify inconsistencies between manually completed polling unit result sheets and electronically captured results, with discrepancies requiring resolution before uploads could proceed.
Recalling the 2023 general elections in Abia, the REC described BVAS as a critical safeguard against discrepancies in voter accreditation figures.
According to her, the system recorded 27,000 accredited voters in a particular local government area, but the figure was allegedly altered manually to 102,000, triggering controversy.
“BVAS was the game changer in 2023. It checkmated frivolous accreditations. It was BVAS that saved the situation in Abia because, in a particular LGA, BVAS captured 27,000 as accredited voters, but it was handwritten as 102,000.
“So, when the controversy came up, our ICT experts simply looked at the figure in IReV as captured by BVAS,” Agu said.
She said the incident demonstrated how technology could help expose discrepancies and strengthen transparency in the electoral process.
Agu also urged journalists to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, particularly the requirements concerning BVAS accreditation and electronic transmission of polling unit results.
She highlighted provisions prescribing penalties for officials who deliberately frustrate electronic transmission of results, saying the legal framework had strengthened accountability and transparency.
The REC, however, stressed that technology alone could not guarantee credible elections without adequate training, testing, operational preparedness and cooperation among relevant departments and electoral officials.
She disclosed that INEC was strengthening cybersecurity, protecting election data, improving system monitoring and enhancing disaster recovery mechanisms to ensure the reliability of its digital infrastructure.
Agu further revealed that the Commission was exploring the responsible use of artificial intelligence to improve planning, data analysis and operational efficiency, while retaining human oversight and accountability.
Describing the media as a critical constitutional partner in the electoral process, the REC cited Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates the press to hold government accountable.
She urged journalists to discharge this responsibility without compromising professional ethics, accuracy and responsible reporting, particularly during the sensitive election period.
Agu said INEC remained committed to collaborating with digital platforms to address demonstrably false electoral content while expanding voter education through its official communication channels.
She also assured media practitioners of the Commission’s openness to engagement and its commitment to conducting free, fair, credible and inclusive elections in 2027.
The REC called on Nigerians to maintain confidence in the electoral process, saying the credibility of the forthcoming elections would depend on the collective commitment of INEC, the media and other stakeholders to transparency, professionalism and national interest.
Over 30 media practitioners participated in the retreat, organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ, Abia State Council, as part of efforts to deepen democracy and strengthen journalistic capacity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
