The Commission also disclosed that it was strengthening its technological infrastructure, cybersecurity systems and election results management processes to safeguard the credibility and integrity of the forthcoming polls.
The Abia State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Sylvia Uchenna Agu, gave the warning on Wednesday during the 2026 Media Retreat and Press Week organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Council, at the Bishop Nwedo Pastoral Centre, Umuahia.
Speaking on the theme, “Safeguarding Electoral Integrity in the Digital Age: INEC and the Media Ahead of the 2027 General Elections,” Agu identified misinformation, disinformation, artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes, cloned voices and manipulated result sheets as emerging threats to electoral credibility.
She urged media organisations to prioritise accuracy and verification over the speed of breaking news, warning that the pursuit of exclusive reports must not come at the expense of national stability and public trust.
“The race to break the news must not break the nation,” the REC cautioned, urging journalists to resist the temptation to publish unverified information in the bid to beat competitors.
She advised media practitioners to cross-check election-related information with INEC before publication or broadcast, noting that failure to verify claims could undermine the credibility of media organisations and mislead the public.
Agu also warned journalists against declaring election results based on information from unauthorised sources, stressing that the media must not become a channel for circulating unverified results.
She called on media organisations to intensify voter education by explaining relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, particularly those relating to voter accreditation, electronic transmission of results and transparency in the electoral process.
On the legal framework, the REC highlighted provisions mandating the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for voter accreditation and the electronic transmission of polling unit results to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
She added that the law also provides penalties for officials who deliberately frustrate the electronic transmission of election results, describing the provisions as important safeguards for transparency and accountability.
Addressing INEC’s technological preparedness, Agu said the Commission was building on lessons learnt from previous elections to improve BVAS, IReV, the electronic EC8A and its Results Management System ahead of the 2027 polls.
She explained that the electronic EC8A system was designed to identify discrepancies between manually completed polling unit result sheets and electronically captured results, with inconsistencies preventing uploads until they were resolved.
Recalling the 2023 general elections in Abia State, Agu cited an alleged alteration of voter accreditation figures in a local government area as an example of how technology could help protect electoral integrity.
According to her, BVAS recorded 27,000 accredited voters in the affected local government area, but the figure was allegedly altered manually to 102,000, triggering controversy.
“BVAS was the game changer in 2023. It checkmated frivolous accreditations. It was BVAS that saved the situation in Abia because, in a particular LGA, BVAS captured 27,000 as accredited voters, but it was handwritten as 102,000.
“So, when the controversy came up, our ICT experts simply looked at the figure in IReV as captured by BVAS,” she said.
She maintained that the incident demonstrated the importance of technological tools in detecting discrepancies and preventing the manipulation of electoral figures.
The REC assured Nigerians that INEC was strengthening its systems and operational processes to deliver credible elections in 2027.
She disclosed that the Commission was enhancing cybersecurity, protecting election data, improving system monitoring and strengthening disaster recovery mechanisms to ensure the reliability of its digital infrastructure.
Agu also revealed that INEC was exploring the responsible use of artificial intelligence to improve election planning, data analysis and operational efficiency, while maintaining human oversight and accountability.
She, however, stressed that technology alone could not guarantee credible elections without adequate training, testing, operational preparedness and effective collaboration among relevant departments and stakeholders.
Describing the media as an indispensable partner in the electoral process, Agu referenced Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates the press to hold government accountable.
She urged journalists to discharge their watchdog responsibilities while upholding professional ethics, accuracy and responsible reporting, particularly during the sensitive election period.
The REC further disclosed that INEC remained committed to working with digital platforms to address demonstrably false electoral content while expanding voter education through its official communication channels.
She expressed confidence that the successful conduct of credible elections in 2027 would require the collective commitment of INEC, the media and other stakeholders to transparency, professionalism and the national interest.
Agu assured journalists of the Commission’s continued openness to engagement and reaffirmed its commitment to conducting free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.
More than 30 media practitioners participated in the retreat, which was organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Abia State NUJ as part of efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, promote responsible journalism and improve professional capacity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
