As the political atmosphere in Nigeria begins to stir with the approach of the 2027 general elections, a critical voice has emerged to set the terms of engagement. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has issued a firm and comprehensive warning to all media entities—from established radio and television stations to online publishers, bloggers, and social media commentators. The message is clear: the platforms that inform the public must not become instruments of division, falsehood, or inflammatory rhetoric. With the official campaign season for the Presidency and the National Assembly set to commence on August 19, 2026, the NBC is positioning itself as a guardian of the public sphere, insisting that the integrity of the electoral process is inextricably linked to the integrity of the information ecosystem. This is not merely a set of bureaucratic directives but a fundamental call to action for the media to prioritize national cohesion over sensationalism and to treat the upcoming political period as a profound exercise in civic duty rather than just a commercial opportunity.
The core of the NBC’s message, delivered through a statement by Moses Jolayemi, Technical Adviser to the Director-General, Mr. Charles Ebuebu, places a heavy burden of responsibility on broadcasters and online media. Recognizing their vast reach and influence over public perception, the Commission underscored that political coverage must be anchored in the principles of accuracy, fairness, and professionalism. This goes beyond a simple plea for balance; it is a directive to ensure that the airwaves and digital spaces are not used to artificially promote or suppress specific political parties, candidates, or ideological viewpoints. The potential for media manipulation is a significant threat, and the NBC’s warning targets this directly. The emphasis is on creating a level playing field where voters can hear a diverse range of perspectives without the filter of media bias. By insisting on equitable treatment in news coverage, the Commission is reinforcing the idea that the media’s role is to inform, not to influence, and that its ultimate loyalty must be to the Nigerian people and the democratic process, not to any political faction.
Beyond the issue of partisan balance, the NBC’s statement delves into the critical matter of factual integrity, particularly concerning unverified claims and damaging allegations. In the heat of a political campaign, accusations of corruption, criminality, electoral manipulation, and misconduct are often weaponized to tarnish reputations. The Commission explicitly cautioned media outlets against presenting such unverified assertions as established fact. This is a crucial safeguard against the dangerous spiral of misinformation that has become a hallmark of modern political discourse. The directive mandates that serious allegations be subjected to rigorous editorial verification before they are released to the public. Furthermore, the NBC reinforced the fundamental principle of the right of reply, ensuring that individuals or organizations that have been misrepresented are granted the opportunity to set the record straight. This is about more than just journalistic ethics; it is about preventing the media from becoming an active participant in character assassination and ensuring that the public debate is grounded in truth rather than manipulated narratives.
The NBC also turned its attention to the personal conduct of media professionals, particularly presenters and anchors who serve as the public face of their stations. They were explicitly warned against passing off their own political opinions as objective facts or using their position to intimidate guests and suppress dissenting voices. This instruction speaks to the immense power wielded by hosts and anchors, who control the flow of conversation and can subtly shape a narrative through their questioning and demeanor. The Commission’s ruling that broadcasters are ultimately liable for content aired by guests, callers, and panellists on live programmes is a significant point, emphasizing that a station cannot absolve itself of responsibility by claiming that someone else said it on their airwaves. This legal and ethical accountability places a duty on producers and managers to have robust mechanisms in place for managing live content, from vetting guests and topics to implementing a broadcast delay to filter out potentially harmful statements. The intention is to foster a robust but respectful exchange of ideas, where all participants are bound by the same rules of factual accuracy and decorum.
The Commission’s guidelines extend to the often murky waters of political advertising and airtime allocation. Broadcasters are now required to keep meticulous records of all dates, programmes, and duration of airtime given to different parties and candidates. The NBC’s directive that “equal opportunity must go beyond selling airtime” is a powerful statement, suggesting that a station cannot simply fulfill its fairness obligations by offering similar advertising packages to all parties at the same price. The Commission remains vigilant against editorial practices that might give an unfair advantage to a particular side, such as subtly favious framing in news reports or scheduling a party’s ad in a more coveted time slot. Furthermore, political advertisements must be clearly separated from news and editorial content to avoid blurring the lines between paid promotion and independent journalism. These ads must also comply with the Nigeria Broadcasting Code’s provisions on truth, decency, and good taste. This framework is designed to ensure that political messaging is transparent and that viewers are always aware of the source and intent of the content they are consuming.
Perhaps the most alarming concern raised by the NBC is the potential for media platforms to be used to foster hatred and national discord. The Commission expressed grave concern over the dissemination of divisive content capable of inciting violence or deepening ethnic, religious, and political divisions. The warning that “the political season must not become an avenue for mobilising Nigerians against one another” is a poignant reminder of the country’s delicate social fabric. This is where the responsibility of online publishers, bloggers, and social media commentators is brought to the forefront, as they are often the primary vectors for such untamed content. The credibility of the entire electoral process, the NBC argues, depends on the health of the information environment. In a separate but related directive, the Commission barred broadcasters from announcing election results or projections from unofficial sources, including polling units and exit polls. Only results announced by duly authorized INEC officials are to be aired. This is a critical measure to prevent the spread of false narratives that could inflame tensions or delegitimize the official process. The media is not to speculate on the outcome but to act as a calm, reliable channel for official information, guiding the public through the electoral process with patience and accuracy.
Looking ahead, the NBC has promised to intensify its monitoring of political broadcasts, expanding its purview to cover advertisements, news, debates, phone-in shows, interviews, sponsored programmes, and live broadcasts. This monitoring will scrutinize everything from airtime allocation and balance to the presence of hate speech and misinformation, with strict attention paid to the statututory silence period, which mandates a cessation of all partisan broadcasting 24 hours before polling day. This comprehensive enforcement plan signals that the Commission’s directives are not empty threats but are backed by a system of surveillance and accountability. In its concluding remarks, the NBC framed its objective not as a restriction of legitimate political expression but as an essential effort to “ensure that Nigeria’s information environment remains conducive to peaceful democratic participation.” The call to action is for all stakeholders—broadcasters, journalists, bloggers, and citizens—to familiarize themselves with the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, the Electoral Act, and INEC guidelines. The ultimate success of the 2027 elections, the Commission suggests, will depend on a collective commitment to responsible journalism, credible information, and fair political discourse. The task ahead is monumental, and as the campaigns begin, the NBC has firmly established that the pursuit of political power must never be allowed to compromise the nation’s unity or the people’s right to make informed, peaceful choices.