The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has condemned the “rig and die” slogan being used by some political actors ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that such rhetoric could expose innocent Nigerians to electoral violence.
The commission also warned that any electoral official, including ad hoc staff, found guilty of compromising the electoral process would face the full weight of the law.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, gave the warning during a media engagement with journalists and media executives from the South-East, South-South and South-West regions in Enugu.
Haruna cautioned politicians against making inflammatory statements or issuing threats that could put presiding officers, ad hoc election staff, party agents and observers at risk.
He said disagreements over election results should be addressed through lawful means, including complaints to INEC, security agencies and the courts, rather than violence.
The national commissioner also called for stronger cooperation between INEC and the media to protect democracy and ensure credible, peaceful and transparent elections in 2027.
He described the media as an important partner in the electoral process, noting that public confidence in elections depended largely on accurate, fair and professional reporting.
Haruna warned journalists against publishing misinformation, unverified results, manipulated videos and inflammatory political claims that could undermine trust in the process and trigger violence.
He specifically cautioned against premature result declarations, sensational reporting and presenting projections as official results.
“Results are declared only by the Commission through its duly appointed returning officers. Projections and unofficial figures must be clearly labelled as such,” he said.
He urged journalists to verify allegations involving INEC through the commission’s official channels before publication and to report electoral incidents responsibly.
He also called for more inclusive election coverage, particularly reports highlighting the participation and challenges of women, young people and persons with disabilities.
Haruna urged media organisations to strengthen voter education on Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), accreditation procedures, electronic transmission of results and peaceful participation in the elections.
In a presentation on ethical and professional standards in election reporting, another resource person, Osaretin Imahheyierobo, urged journalists to familiarise themselves with the Electoral Act 2026, INEC’s election coverage guidelines and the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.
He expressed concern that many journalists covering elections were not sufficiently familiar with the laws and regulations guiding electoral reporting.
Imahheyierobo challenged media organisations to establish dedicated election desks, develop editorial guidelines and strengthen fact-checking systems ahead of the 2027 polls.
He also urged journalists to understand INEC’s technological tools, particularly the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), to avoid inaccurate reports about voting and result management.
The resource person warned journalists against accepting money to compromise their professional responsibilities, insisting that political candidates should be properly scrutinised rather than having their claims and campaign promises published without verification.
He also called for equal media access for political parties and candidates, noting that voters depended on the media for information to make informed choices.
INEC distributes 35,000 PVCs in Enugu
Earlier, the Enugu State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, said the engagement reflected the commission’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with the media ahead of the 2027 elections.
Chukwu described journalists as strategic partners in voter education, shaping public opinion and holding institutions accountable. However, he warned that misinformation could damage public confidence in the electoral process.
He disclosed that INEC had received about 35,000 PVCs for distribution across 260 wards in Enugu State and urged journalists to support public awareness campaigns to encourage collection.,
While recognising the media’s independence and watchdog role, Chukwu urged practitioners to maintain accuracy, objectivity, fairness and professionalism when reporting electoral activities.
He assured Nigerians that the commission remained committed to conducting credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful elections in 2027.
The REC also encouraged journalists to educate voters on what to do before, during and after elections to ensure peaceful participation and informed choices.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State Council, Obinna Ogbuka, commended INEC for organising the engagement but said the initiative should have started earlier to allow more journalists to benefit from the training before the election cycle.
Ogbuka also expressed concern over the apparent lack of budgetary provision for journalists’ logistics during election assignments, saying media practitioners needed adequate support to carry out their responsibilities effectively.
He further raised concerns about declining public confidence in INEC and urged the commission to take deliberate steps to rebuild trust before the 2027 elections.
Other presentations at the one-day engagement examined the legal and regulatory frameworks governing elections, provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and rules guiding the publication and announcement of election results.
Participants commended INEC for its preparations but urged the commission to address problems recorded during previous elections, particularly the technical difficulties that affected electronic transmission of results during the 2023 presidential election.
They also called on the commission to recognise journalists as important stakeholders in the electoral process.
