Professor Joash Amupitan, the chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), recently stood before the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) at their 81st General Assembly in Abuja, and his message was clear and urgent: we need a stronger commitment to truth in media if we want our 2027 elections to be credible and peaceful. He painted a vivid picture of the modern electoral landscape, explaining that the most dangerous weapon we face isn’t a ballot-snatcher’s gun, but rather the rapid spread of lies through a smartphone, amplified without question by complacent broadcasters. In essence, he’s saying that our airwaves, those invisible highways of information, must remain sacred spaces for truth, not become loudspeakers for chaos. He believes the battle for democracy is now fought not just at polling stations, but crucially within our media ecosystem, where every news byte and every social media post holds immense power.
With the 2027 presidential and national assembly elections just 283 days away, and the governorship and state assembly elections following closely at 304 days, Professor Amupitan stressed that the success of these polls depends heavily on how responsibly the media handles its immense platform. He reminded everyone of Section 96(1) of their electoral act, which strictly forbids any abusive, slanderous, or inflammatory language that could stir up ethnic, religious, or regional tensions. In a diverse nation like Nigeria, he warned, thoughtless political broadcasting can easily ignite divisions and destabilize the entire electoral environment. There’s a crucial line, he emphasized, between healthy political debate and outright incitement, and that line must never be blurred. He also brought up the mandatory 24-hour “cooling-off period” before election day, a time when all political ads and campaign broadcasts are banned. This isn’t a stifling of speech, he explained, but a vital protective measure for voters, shielding them from last-minute propaganda, misinformation, or emotional manipulation that could cloud their judgment. It’s a quiet space, he said, for citizens to make their own unpressured decisions.
While championing these regulations, Professor Amupitan acknowledged the fundamental right to freedom of expression enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution. He articulated that regulating the media is a delicate balancing act, one that must carefully uphold media independence. Yet, he also pointed out that the airwaves are a limited public resource, and this scarcity places a significant responsibility on the state to ensure everyone gets fair access, especially during elections. With 22 registered political parties, fairness isn’t just an option; it’s a legal obligation. Broadcasters, he insisted, must create a level playing field, ensuring no single group monopolizes the airwaves. He then highlighted the serious consequences of violating these rules, which include hefty fines running into millions of naira for media organizations and their principal officers, and even potential imprisonment. This stern sanction regime, he clarified, underscores the gravity with which the law treats fairness in media coverage during elections.
The challenge, according to Professor Amupitan, is magnified by the convergence of traditional broadcasting with digital platforms. What’s broadcast on TV or radio today is, within minutes, clipped, amplified, and even weaponized across various online channels. To tackle this, he proposed a multi-pronged approach involving legal, institutional, and industry reforms. This includes defining “equal access” more clearly in legal terms, fostering stronger coordination between INEC and the NBC, ensuring regulatory bodies are more independent, and pushing for stricter internal editorial guidelines within media organizations themselves. He also called for robust fact-checking mechanisms and greater transparency in political advertising, demanding clear disclosures of who is sponsoring ads and how pricing structures are determined.
Professor Amupitan didn’t shy away from another critical threat: voter apathy. He described elections as the very ‘lifeblood of democracy,’ and warned that as campaigns gain momentum for 2027, the temptation to prioritize lucrative political advertisements over balanced reporting will become immense. He reiterated that the fight for democracy isn’t confined to polling units; it’s intensely fought in the information space. He made a heartfelt plea to broadcast media to actively combat misinformation and disinformation, urging them to protect the sanctity of Nigeria’s electoral process. In essence, he charged them with a significant role in safeguarding the very foundation of their democratic future.