INEC Warns Against Fake News and Premature Result Announcements Ahead of the 2026 Ekiti Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned journalists, broadcasters and online media practitioners against spreading false information and announcing election results prematurely ahead of the Ekiti State governorship election on Saturday, June 20, 2026.

The Commission warned that inaccurate reporting, manipulated videos, misleading headlines and unverified polling‑unit figures threaten the peaceful conduct of elections and erode public confidence in the democratic process.

INEC’s warning was issued on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, during the Media Stakeholders’ Forum in Ado‑Ekiti, which gathered media executives, producers, reporters and on‑air personalities in preparation for the governorship contest.

Speaking on behalf of the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ekiti State, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, the media was described as a vital partner in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.

He expressed particular concern over the growing spread of false election 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, noting 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 reported that 64 media organisations had already applied for accreditation to deploy about 560 journalists to cover the election, with the accreditation portal set to close automatically at midnight on June 7, 2026.

He urged media organisations that had not yet applied to use the remaining window.

According to him, the Ekiti governorship election will take place across 16 local government areas, 117 registration areas/wards and 2,445 polling units in the state. Thirteen political parties will participate.

Dr. Omoseyindemi said the Commission has largely completed key preparatory activities, including publishing the final list of candidates and presenting the final register of voters to political parties.

He noted that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) will be deployed to ensure transparency in voter accreditation and result management.

The REC added that non‑sensitive election materials have been largely procured, while sensitive materials are in the final stage of production.

He said recruitment and screening of ad‑hoc staff have been completed, with training to commence shortly.

Dr. Omoseyindemi also announced that Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection in Ekiti State will begin at registration areas from June 4 to June 8 and continue at local government offices from June 9 to June 11, 2026.

Victoria Eta‑Messi, Director of Voter Education and Publicity, said the forum was organised to deepen 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, 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 of the nine activities on the Commission’s election timetable have already been completed, adding that INEC is working toward the simultaneous opening of all 2,445 polling units in the state by 8:30 a.m. on Election Day.

Also speaking, Kayode Babatuyi, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, said the union has 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 brought together media executives, editors, reporters and on‑air personalities from across the state ahead of the governorship election.

The forum also featured technical briefings from INEC’s ICT, Electoral Operations and Legal Services departments on the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, the INEC Result Viewing Portal, operational logistics and the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.