2027: Editors urge INEC to guarantee transparency, timely release of information

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure transparency and the timely disclosure of information in order to protect the integrity of the 2027 general elections.

 

NGE President Eze Anaba made the call on Monday in Abuja at a strategic workshop organised by INEC in collaboration with the guild.

 

The three-day workshop has as its theme: "Strengthening Democracy Through Partnership Among Editors, Civil Society and Electoral Institutions."

 

Anaba acknowledged that the media cannot carry the burden of building public trust alone, stressing that timely and accessible information from the electoral body is vital to a mutually beneficial relationship between both sides.

 

He urged media managers and the electoral umpire to build a deeper partnership, anchored on mutual respect and open communication, to effectively tackle misinformation.

 

"Elections are not merely about casting ballots. They are about trust.

 

"They are about citizens believing that their votes will count, that the process will be transparent and that the institutions responsible for conducting elections will act fairly and professionally," he said.

 

The NGE president pledged the commitment of editors to working with INEC and other stakeholders to deliver elections that Nigerians can trust, and a media that citizens can rely on for credible information.

 

"In an environment increasingly polluted by misinformation, disinformation, manipulated content, deepfakes and partisan narratives, the relationship between INEC and the media must therefore be one founded on openness, mutual respect and regular engagement," Anaba said.

 

The Executive Director of the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), Dr Akin Akingbulu, called for transparency on both sides of the relationship between institutions and the media.

 

"Newsrooms cannot verify what institutions do not disclose," he said.

 

Akingbulu proposed an "INEC–Editors Verification Compact" that would spell out clear obligations for both information sharing and responsible reporting. He also warned of the growing threat posed by AI-generated falsehoods about elections.

 

"Ballot papers may decide an election's winner, but the quality of information surrounding the process shapes whether citizens trust the outcome," he said.

 

Also speaking, Arogundade urged the media to put verification ahead of speed, and stressed the need for strong measures to guarantee the safety of journalists covering elections in the field.

 

INEC's Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, warned about the widespread threat of fake news to the electoral process.

 

She described fake news as "a cancer" that undermines citizens' participation in the electoral system.

 

According to Eta-Messi, distorted reports contribute directly to voter apathy. She charged editors to use their position as gatekeepers to verify claims from the field before publication.

 

Team Leader of DAI, Rudolf Elbling, commended INEC and the NGE for creating the platform, saying strong cooperation between the media and institutions remains essential to preserving democratic stability in Nigeria.

 

Describing the media as the oxygen of democracy, Elbling stressed the need for timely and accurate information.

 

"Media as the oxygen of democracy, but today, there's a lot of poisonous oxygen out there as well, which is hard to breathe, especially for these guys here.

 

"It really becomes a horrible mess out there. But you as respectable media, you still stick to the facts that are more important than ever," he said.

 

## Round-the-clock verification channels

 

Explaining the workshop's operational objectives, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, said the session was designed to set up direct, round-the-clock verification channels between newsrooms and the commission.

 

He said the aim was to prevent unverified claims from undermining public peace.

 

"Beyond reporting the news, the media, civil society, and electoral institutions share a joint obligation to protect the integrity of the ballot.

 

"Our goal today is to align on ethical gatekeeping, conflict-sensitive reporting, and civic enlightenment—especially as the nationwide collection of Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs) commences in four days, on Oct.9," he said.

 

INEC National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, commended the media for their support, which he said had made the commission's achievements possible.

 

Haruna, who is also Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), called for greater collaboration between the media and INEC.

 

He said upcoming milestones, including the countdown to the general election, would require even stronger collaboration with media executives to keep the public accurately informed.