From David Onuoja, Abuja
The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has expressed the importance of media support in ensuring a seamless electoral process for the 2027 General Election.
Addressing media executives at a consultative meeting in Abuja, Amupitan highlighted INEC’s preparations for upcoming elections, including the FCT Area Council Elections on February 21, 2026, and bye-elections in Rivers and Kano States. He announced plans for a nationwide Voter Revalidation Exercise to strengthen the integrity of the voters’ register.
Amupitan who urged the media to promote accurate reporting, mobilize residents to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and sensitize the public on the importance of conducting electoral activities within the law, however, warned against misinformation, misinterpretation, and deliberate distortion, emphasising INEC’s commitment to openness and accountability.
The INEC Chairman noted that 83 domestic and 5 foreign observers have been accredited for the FCT council elections, and online accreditation for journalists which remains ongoing until February 8, 2026.
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Amupitan highlighted INEC’s achievements, including the successful conduct of the Anambra State Governorship Election and the registration of 2,782,587 eligible voters in the first phase of Continuous Voter Registration.
The meeting noted the importance of collective responsibility of stakeholders in fostering Nigerian democracy, with INEC urging the media to rise against mis/disinformation and protect the sanctity of the electoral process.
Responding, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), National President, Alhassan Yahaya, appealed to Journalists and media organization to be ready to continue to create more space for the election processes and election campaign including other election activities media industries across the country.
He equally called on INEC Chairman to create avenue for training of journalists. “Let me on this note sincerely appeal to you to prioritise issues of training.
“And I think, it is expected that as soon as the electoral act is passed, we are going to have the same kind of training, so that new members can be acquainted with the new electoral act and that we can be a strong advocate for better election processes and election in Nigeria.
“With this, I hope and pray that we will continue to walk in line with the ethics of our profession. And I want to use this opportunity as well to always sensitize and appeal to our members to prioritize issues of national security and national interest in all our reports”, he said.
