The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged journalists to familiarise themselves with the various stages of the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections to promote accurate reporting and help reduce avoidable litigation.
The Kaduna State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Professor Saidu Ahmed, gave the charge at a retreat organised by the Kano State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Ahmed, who was represented by an INEC supervisor, Ahmed Musa, said journalists should understand the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and the procedures governing party primaries, nomination of candidates, publication of candidates’ lists, campaigns, pre-election litigation, election-day activities and post-election petitions.
He said the media plays a critical role in shaping public perception and could either contribute to nation-building or undermine national cohesion through irresponsible reporting.
“You can make or break even a nation. So it is always on you to try to make a nation, not to break a nation,” he said.
The REC urged journalists to report elections within the framework of the new electoral law and understand the rights and limitations attached to media accreditation.
According to him, the Electoral Act 2026 introduced significant changes that would affect the conduct and reporting of the 2027 elections.
He noted that Section 47 of the Act made the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) a legal requirement, while electronic transmission of polling-unit results had also become mandatory.
Ahmed added that the law prescribed penalties for presiding officers who deliberately obstruct electronic transmission of results and for returning or collation officers who intentionally collate or announce false results.
He further explained that indirect voting in political party primaries had been abolished under the new law, requiring parties to adopt direct primaries or consensus.
The REC also said courts could no longer stop a primary election or electoral process through injunctions, with electoral disputes to be addressed after the relevant process.
Ahmed advised journalists to rely on INEC’s official communication channels and avoid publishing unverified information from social media platforms.
He specifically cautioned against treating WhatsApp messages, Facebook posts, voice notes, photographs or documents circulated by individual INEC staff or political party agents as official statements of the commission.
The INEC official said journalists should verify information through authorised commission officials, stressing that accurate understanding of the electoral process would help prevent misinformation and reduce disputes arising from election reporting.
With political activities expected to intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, he urged journalists to uphold professional and ethical standards while providing the public with accurate information on the electoral process.
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