Education
GOCOP warns against fake news, urges INEC to ensure transparency ahead of 2027 elections – EnviroNews
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The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure transparency in the conduct of the 2027 general elections, warning that misinformation, weak accountability and declining public confidence pose significant threats to electoral credibility.
The Guild also urged media organisations to prioritise accuracy over speed, reject sensationalism and verify election-related information before publication to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
These recommendations were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of GOCOP’s 10th Annual Conference, held from October 7 to 8, 2026, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
The conference, themed “2027 Elections: Trust, Transparency and Shared Responsibilities,” brought together media executives, policymakers, academics, security officials, civil society leaders and other stakeholders to deliberate on the preparations for the 2027 elections.
Chaired by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), the conference featured a keynote address by INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN).
Other discussants included the Commissioner of Police in charge of Election Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at Force Headquarters, Abuja, CP Abayomi Shogunle; the Head of the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos, Prof. Tayo Popoola; the Creative Director of Gender Agenda and Founder of WEWE Network Afrique, Dr. Adaora Onyechere Sydney-Jack; and the Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Nigeria, Mr. Lanre Arogundade.
According to the communiqué signed by GOCOP President, Danlami Nmodu, mni, and General Secretary, Sufuyan Ojeifo, the conference identified public trust as the decisive factor in determining the credibility of the 2027 elections.
It noted that confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process remained low, citing a survey presented at the conference which indicated that only 38 per cent of Nigerians believed in the credibility of elections.
The Guild stressed that technological innovations alone could not guarantee credible elections without institutional integrity, transparency and accountability.
INEC Urged to Strengthen Transparency
The conference acknowledged INEC’s preparations for the elections, including structural, technological and logistical reforms, upgraded result-integrity systems, artificial intelligence-assisted data auditing and multilayered cybersecurity measures developed in collaboration with technology partners, including Google and Microsoft.
It, however, urged the electoral commission to match its assurances with verifiable action by publishing timely and clear information on logistics, technology testing and result management throughout the electoral process.
The Guild also called on INEC to immediately activate its proposed Digital Media Fact-Verification Channel to enable editors to confirm field reports, security incidents and technical problems before publishing election-related information.
The communiqué further recommended that the commission translate the Electoral Act, relevant regulations and voter education materials into major Nigerian languages.
It said accessible formats should also be provided for persons with disabilities to promote broader participation in the electoral process.
The conference observed that Nigeria’s linguistic diversity, comprising about 250 ethnic groups, made it necessary to expand access to electoral information beyond English, the language in which electoral laws and guidelines are currently published.
It also urged INEC to work with relevant prosecuting authorities to ensure that electoral offenders were prosecuted and the outcomes of such cases made public.
The Guild warned that the persistent failure to punish electoral offences encouraged impunity and undermined public confidence in the electoral system.
Media Must Reject Unverified Results
On the role of the media, GOCOP declared that responsible journalism was critical to the success of the 2027 elections, warning that fake news, unverified leaks, manipulated media and artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes could inflame divisions and discourage voter participation.
It noted that the damage caused by false information was often difficult to reverse, even when corrections or retractions were subsequently published.
Consequently, the Guild directed its members to publish only verified election information, stressing that unverified polling-unit results, altered result sheets and inflammatory speculation had no place on its platforms.
It added that violations would attract sanctions under the Guild’s code of conduct.
The conference also cautioned against the influence of commercial interests, clickbait-driven publishing and proprietorial interference in election coverage, urging media organisations to place accuracy and public interest above speed and partisan considerations.
It maintained that operational delays during the elections should be reported with appropriate context and official verification rather than portrayed as evidence of a systemic breakdown.
The Guild welcomed a three-point pact proposed by INEC on fact-verification, editorial self-regulation and voter education, pledging that its Executive Council would engage the commission on its implementation without compromising editorial independence.
It further urged the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), GOCOP and other media organisations to seek judicial interpretation of Section 60 of the Electoral Act 2026 in relation to Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and the right to receive and impart information.
According to the communiqué, the legal position on media reporting of exit polls, projections and independent tallies remains unsettled and requires judicial clarification.
While acknowledging the media’s constitutional responsibility to inform the public, the Guild stressed that freedom to disseminate information must be accompanied by the obligation to verify facts before publication.
PVC Collection Signals Election Countdown
The conference noted that nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) commenced on October 9, 2026, marking the beginning of the countdown to the 2027 general elections.
It called on Nigerians to collect their PVCs, participate actively in the elections and clearly define the expectations they have of their elected representatives.
The Guild also urged citizens to verify information before sharing it and to hold public institutions and officeholders accountable throughout the electoral cycle.
It observed that many Nigerians failed to participate in elections but later resorted to protests over governance outcomes, stressing that citizens must recognise their responsibility as stakeholders in the country’s democratic process.
GOCOP Raises Concerns Over Women’s Representation
The conference expressed concern over the persistent underrepresentation of women in Nigeria’s electoral process, describing their inclusion in many political arrangements as largely performative.
It observed that opaque consensus arrangements in political parties’ candidate selection processes systematically excluded women and warned that current trends could result in even fewer women being elected in 2027.
The Guild called on the National Assembly to enact legislation that would deliberately increase women’s participation and representation in the electoral process.
It also urged political parties to adopt open and transparent candidate selection procedures and end practices that undermine women’s opportunities to contest elections.
Cost of Living Identified as Major Electoral Issue
The conference identified the cost of living as a major issue likely to shape voting decisions in 2027, noting that conflicting narratives surrounding fuel subsidy removal had left many voters unclear about candidates’ policy positions.
It called on the Federal Government and relevant agencies to provide a clear and authoritative explanation of fuel subsidy policy and domestic crude oil pricing to enable voters to make informed decisions.
The communiqué also referenced Executive Order 9 on NNPC Limited and the argument that Nigerian crude oil should be priced more favourably for domestic consumers than for external buyers.
Political parties and candidates were urged to focus their campaigns on issues affecting citizens’ welfare, particularly the cost of living, while avoiding disinformation, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric.
In his welcome address, Nmodu had urged politicians to put the people first and ensure that government policies improved citizens’ welfare.
He also charged journalists to hold both the government and opposition accountable through accurate, fair, balanced and objective reporting.
Police, Security Agencies Tasked on Election Safety
On election security, the conference acknowledged reports by the Nigeria Police Force that elections conducted since February 2026 had been relatively peaceful, with no shootings reported, attributing the development to intelligence-led operations.
It urged the police and other security agencies to sustain lawful, intelligence-driven and non-partisan security arrangements throughout the 2027 electoral process.
The Guild emphasised that security agencies must remain professional and impartial to protect voters, electoral officials, candidates and other stakeholders.
GOCOP Cites Botswana as Democratic Example
The conference observed that credible elections should be regarded as critical national infrastructure, noting that strong institutions and public confidence were essential to peaceful political transitions.
It cited Botswana’s 2024 elections, which ended the Botswana Democratic Party’s 58-year hold on power, as an example of what trusted democratic institutions could achieve in Africa.
The Guild reaffirmed that credible elections were a shared responsibility requiring the commitment of INEC, political parties, security agencies, the media and citizens.
It pledged the commitment of its 127 member publications to verified, fair and responsible reporting before, during and after the 2027 general elections.
The communiqué also expressed appreciation to the keynote speaker, the conference chairman, the Governor of Imo State, the panellists, partners and sponsors in the public and private sectors for supporting the conference and contributing to a decade of GOCOP’s annual gatherings.
The 10th Annual Conference featured capacity-building sessions on newsroom sustainability, artificial intelligence in online publishing and digital media monetisation on its first day, followed by the Guild’s Annual General Meeting.
The second day was devoted to the public conference and deliberations on building trust, promoting transparency and strengthening shared responsibility in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections.
