The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has issued a firm and comprehensive warning to all media platforms across Nigeria—from traditional radio and television stations to online news outlets, bloggers, and social media personalities. This directive comes as the official ban on political campaigning for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections has been lifted, signaling the formal start of a high-stakes election season. The NBC’s message is clear: the coming period is not just a time for commercial gain or political promotion, but a profound exercise in public responsibility. The media landscape, which shapes public opinion and informs voters’ choices, must operate with accuracy, fairness, and professionalism. In a statement delivered by Moses Jolayemi, the technical adviser to the Director-General, the Commission underscores that the trust placed in media platforms carries an enormous responsibility, one that is crucial for protecting national cohesion and enabling citizens to make informed electoral decisions.
At the core of the NBC’s directive is the absolute necessity for fairness and impartiality in political reportage. The Commission explicitly urges all licensed broadcasters to ensure their political coverage is balanced and equitable, providing a level playing field for all parties and candidates. This goes beyond the mere sale of airtime; it demands that editorial and programming practices do not systematically advantage one candidate or political viewpoint over another. Broadcasting institutions must act as neutral arbiters, facilitating a healthy and necessary public discourse without promoting or suppressing specific parties, candidates, or political persuasions. The directive serves as a critical reminder that the media’s role is to inform the electorate, not to sway them through biased presentation.
Further entrenching the call for fairness, the NBC stressed the critical importance of editorial verification and the right of reply. All claims, allegations, statistics, or assertions, particularly those involving serious matters like corruption, criminality, or electoral manipulation, must be rigorously vetted and verified before they are broadcast. Broadcasting unsubstantiated allegations can unfairly damage reputations and unfairly influence public perception. In an effort to uphold honesty and integrity, media outlets are also reminded to honor the right of reply, affording individuals and organizations who have been genuinely misrepresented a timely and fair opportunity to respond. This principle aims to strike a balance between the public’s right to know and an individual’s right to protect their reputation, raising the overall quality of political coverage and protecting it from becoming a satirical, unarmed exchange of accusations.
The NBC further cautioned the on-air personalities—the presenters, anchors, reporters, producers, and hosts—who are the public face of political coverage. They were explicitly warned against allowing their own personal political viewpoints to be presented as objective facts. The role of a presenter is to facilitate thoughtful discussion, not to dominate or steer it. They must create a respectful space for guests and callers, ensuring that opposing viewpoints are heard and that conversations do not become platforms for bullying, harassment, or exclusion. The obligation of responsibility rests firmly with the broadcaster, even for unscripted, live content that comes from guests. This simple but impactful directive ensures that political discourse remains a multi-faceless conversation, not a monologue or a tool for personal political advocacy. The Commission’s focus here is on the integrity of the process—the content, the conduct, and the atmosphere—of election coverage.
The NBC also made it explicitly clear that this period demands absolute vigilance regarding media content, especially when it comes to the use of digital and social platforms to spread “viral” and harmful content. The central concern is the potential for broadcast and digital platforms to amplify inflammatory and divisive political content that could incite violence, provoke hatred, or create deep-seated divisions along ethnic, religious, or political lines. The political season cannot become a tool for mobilization against fellow Nigerians. The directive warns against the use of unverified election results or projections from unofficial sources such as exit polls. In the past, unsubstantiated claims can lead to chaos and erosion of trust in the electoral process. The NBC was explicit: only the duly authorized electoral officer’s official announcements and results should be broadcast. This requires a high bar for gatekeeping and a commitment to denounce conspiracy narratives.
In a major step towards executive accountability, the NBC announced a mechanism for adherence: intensified monitoring of all political content across various programs, including paid advertisements, news, discussions, and live shows. They will be vigilant and looking for patterns in airtime allocation, fairness, balance, and the presence of inflammatory or abusive content. This monitoring will extend to the statutory campaign silence period, demanding that all partisan broadcasts cease at least 24 hours before the election. Additionally, the erased and warning to online publishers, bloggers, and social media commentators underscore the commission’s understanding of the modern information ecosystem. The NBC’s goal is not to limit free speech but to ensure that information integrity is maintained to facilitate peaceful and democratic participation. All stakeholders must uphold national stability and the credibility of the electoral process, ultimately ensuring that the public’s ability to make informed choices is protected. Those who fail to meet these standards not only risk their professional standing but the harmony of the nation, as the media is a critical pillar in the democratic structure.