The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned journalists, broadcasters, and online media practitioners against the spread of fake news, misinformation, and premature declaration of election results ahead of the Ekiti State Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2026.
The Commission warned that inaccurate reporting, manipulated videos, misleading headlines, and unverified polling unit results could threaten the peaceful conduct of the election and erode public confidence in the democratic process.
The warning was issued on Tuesday during the INEC Media Stakeholders’ Forum held in Ado-Ekiti for media executives, producers, reporters, and on air personalities ahead of the governorship poll.
Speaking on behalf of 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 critical partner in safeguarding the integrity of elections.
He expressed concern over the growing spread of false election related information on social media and unverified online platforms.
“We call on media executives to establish and activate fact checking protocols. We call on reporters to verify information from official INEC sources before broadcasting or publishing,” he said.
Dr. Omoseyindemi warned on air personalities against amplifying unverified claims in the rush to break news, stressing that sensational reporting could create panic, suppress voter turnout, and undermine peace.
“The media is not just an observer in the electoral process; the media is a strategic partner in safeguarding democracy,” he added.
The REC disclosed that 64 media organisations had applied for accreditation to deploy about 560 journalists to cover the election, noting that the accreditation portal would close automatically at midnight on June 7, 2026.
He urged media organisations yet to apply to utilise the remaining application window.
According to him, the governorship election will be conducted across the state’s 16 Local Government Areas, 117 Registration Areas/Wards, and 2,445 Polling Units, with 13 political parties participating.
Dr. Omoseyindemi further stated that INEC had substantially completed major preparatory activities, including the publication of the final list of candidates and the presentation of the final register of voters to political parties.
He said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) would be deployed to enhance transparency in voter accreditation and result management.
The REC added that non sensitive election materials had largely been procured, while sensitive materials were at the final stage of production.
He also disclosed that the recruitment and screening of ad hoc staff had been completed, with training scheduled to commence shortly.
Dr. Omoseyindemi announced that the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Ekiti State would begin at the Registration Areas from June 4 to June 8 and continue at Local Government offices from June 9 to June 11, 2026.
Also speaking, the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, said the forum was organised to strengthen collaboration between INEC and the media ahead of the election.
She explained that the engagement was designed to provide accurate information on electoral procedures, technology deployment, operational guidelines, and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
In a goodwill message, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. 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.
Oketola warned journalists against sacrificing accuracy for speed, insisting that “speed must never sacrifice accuracy.”
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 the simultaneous opening of all 2,445 polling units in the state by 8:30 a.m. on Election Day.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ekiti State, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, said the union had introduced measures to curb fake news and improve accountability among online journalists in the state.
He assured the Commission of the union’s commitment to ethical journalism and responsible election coverage.
The one day forum featured technical briefings from INEC’s ICT, Electoral Operations, and Legal Services departments on the deployment of BVAS, the IReV portal, election logistics, and provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.