Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has issued a strong warning to journalists, broadcasters, and online media practitioners against the spread of fake news and premature declaration of election results ahead of the Ekiti State Governorship Election slated for June 20, 2026.
The warning came during the INEC Media Stakeholders’ Forum held in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, where media executives, reporters, and on-air personalities gathered to discuss preparations for the poll.
Speaking on behalf of the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, said fake news, manipulated videos, misleading headlines, and unverified polling unit figures could threaten peaceful elections and damage public trust in democracy.
He urged journalists to verify all election-related information through official INEC channels before publishing or broadcasting, warning that the rush to break news must not come at the expense of accuracy.
According to him, sensational and unverified reports could create panic, discourage voter participation, and undermine peace during the election.
INEC also revealed that 64 media organisations have already applied for accreditation, with about 560 journalists expected to cover the election across the state’s 16 local government areas and 2,445 polling units.
The Commission says thirteen political parties will participate in the governorship contest, while preparations for the election are already at an advanced stage.
Dr. Omoseyindemi disclosed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, and the INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV, will be fully deployed to ensure transparency in accreditation and result management.
He also announced that collection of Permanent Voter Cards in Ekiti State will begin from June 4 to June 11.
Meanwhile, INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, described fake news as one of the biggest threats to peaceful elections, warning that “speed must never sacrifice accuracy.”
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, also pledged support for ethical journalism and responsible election coverage as preparations intensify for the Ekiti governorship poll.