The Independent National Electoral Commission has appealed to media organisations in Osun State to intensify efforts against misinformation and fake news ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Oluwatoyin Babalola, made the appeal on Tuesday in Osogbo during a dialogue session between journalists and INEC on voter education and publicity for the 2026 governorship poll. The programme was organised by the EU-Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria in partnership with INEC.
Babalola stressed that the media remains a critical stakeholder in ensuring a credible electoral process, urging journalists to prioritise accuracy and fact-checking in their reports.
She warned that the spread of false information, manipulated videos, fake election results and misleading propaganda could erode public trust, trigger unrest and cast doubt on election outcomes.
According to her, collaboration between INEC and media practitioners is essential to counter misinformation and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
The REC assured journalists of the commission’s commitment to providing prompt and verifiable information through its official communication channels, urging them to rely on such platforms when reporting election-related developments.
She further noted that the dialogue provided an opportunity for both INEC and media stakeholders to develop voter education strategies tailored to the needs of Osun residents, using languages and formats that are easy to understand.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Director of the Centre for Media and Society, Dr Akin Akingbulu, urged journalists to uphold their responsibility of educating citizens before, during and after the election.
He said the media should also monitor campaign promises, evaluate public reactions to political messages and scrutinise INEC’s preparations for the poll.
Akingbulu encouraged journalists to go beyond routine reporting by critically examining issues and providing perspectives that can enhance public understanding of the electoral process.