INEC, NOA Unite to Combat Fake News Ahead of 2027 General Elections

By Iyojo Ameh

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) have launched a joint campaign to combat fake news and misinformation ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that false narratives pose one of the greatest threats to Nigeria’s electoral integrity and democratic participation.

The two agencies reached the agreement on Wednesday during a strategic meeting at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, where they pledged to intensify grassroots voter education and provide Nigerians with accurate information on the electoral process.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, said the spread of false information before and during elections has increasingly eroded public confidence in the electoral system, discouraging many eligible voters from participating in the democratic process.

According to him, recent electoral experiences have shown that misinformation can be as damaging as logistical or administrative challenges, making public enlightenment a critical component of preparations for the 2027 polls.

He recalled that during the last Federal Capital Territory election, fabricated claims circulated widely on social media, including an old violence-related video falsely presented as current election violence and allegations that hundreds of thousands of Permanent Voter Cards had been secretly stockpiled for a political party.

Although the claims were later debunked, Amupitan noted that they had already created anxiety among voters and fuelled distrust in the electoral process.

“These false narratives are deliberately designed to weaken citizens’ confidence in elections and discourage voter participation,” he said.

The INEC chairman stressed that while the commission continues to improve election management through technological innovation, logistics and administrative reforms, such efforts would achieve little if citizens relied on misleading information or lost faith in the credibility of elections.

He said the partnership with NOA would focus on taking voter education directly to communities through indigenous languages, correcting misinformation, explaining electoral procedures and reassuring Nigerians about the legal safeguards protecting the voting process.

Amupitan described NOA as a critical partner because of its extensive grassroots communication network and ability to engage citizens across diverse communities.

Responding, NOA Director-General, Mallam Issa Onilu, said the collaboration was timely, noting that the 2023 general elections exposed significant gaps in civic education, particularly among young and first-time voters who were heavily influenced by misleading content circulating online.

He argued that civic education should not be restricted to election periods but sustained throughout the electoral cycle to build informed citizens capable of distinguishing facts from misinformation.

Onilu said NOA’s presence in all 774 local government areas, supported by state and zonal offices, positions the agency to drive grassroots sensitisation while also providing feedback on citizens’ concerns.

He added that rebuilding public trust in democratic institutions would require transparent communication, continuous engagement and consistent government action.

Under the partnership, both agencies will roll out a nationwide civic education programme aimed at countering fake news, correcting misconceptions about electoral procedures, encouraging voter participation and strengthening confidence in the credibility of the 2027 general elections.