The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged journalists to understand the different stages of the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Kaduna State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Saidu Ahmed, gave the advice during a retreat organised by the Kano State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Ahmed, who was represented by an INEC supervisor, Ahmed Musa, said journalists must understand the laws and procedures guiding elections to ensure that they report accurately and responsibly.
He urged journalists to study the Electoral Act 2026 and become familiar with the processes involved in party primaries, nomination of candidates, publication of candidates’ lists, campaigns, pre election cases, election day activities and post election petitions.
According to him, a proper understanding of these processes would help journalists avoid mistakes that could lead to misinformation and unnecessary legal disputes.
Ahmed also spoke about election reporting, the legal framework, security issues and the ethical responsibilities of journalists.
He said journalists play an important role in shaping public opinion and could either contribute to national development or create division through irresponsible reporting.
“You can make or break even a nation. So it is always on you to try to make a nation, not to break a nation,” he said.
The REC urged journalists to report elections within the provisions of the new legal framework and understand the rights and restrictions attached to media accreditation.
He noted that the Electoral Act 2026, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on February 18, 2026, introduced changes that would affect the conduct and reporting of the 2027 elections.
Ahmed said Section 47 of the Act made the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) compulsory during elections.
He added that the electronic transmission of results from polling units was also made mandatory under the new law.
According to him, Section 60(6) provides penalties for presiding officers who deliberately prevent the electronic transmission of results, while Section 62(9) provides punishment for returning or collation officers who knowingly collate or announce false results.
He further said the new law had abolished indirect voting during political party primaries, requiring political parties to use direct primaries or consensus.
Ahmed also said courts could no longer stop a primary election or electoral process through injunctions, as disputes would be dealt with after the relevant electoral process.
He stressed that journalists must understand every stage of the election process, from party primaries and candidate nominations to campaigns, election day and post election petitions.
The REC also advised journalists to rely on INEC’s official communication channels when reporting election related information.
He said the official communication channel at the national level is through the INEC Chairman and the National Commissioner responsible for voter education and publicity.
At the state level, he said, the Resident Electoral Commissioner is the official channel and may delegate another officer to speak on behalf of the state office.
Ahmed warned journalists against treating WhatsApp messages, Facebook posts, voice notes, photographs or documents shared by individual INEC officials or political party agents as official statements from the commission.
“An agent does not work for INEC. If it is not on the record from a named officer or a signed commission document, then it is not INEC speaking,” he said.
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