With just 98 days to the 2027 General Elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled new measures aimed at strengthening election credibility, protecting results and rebuilding public confidence ahead of the polls.
The Commission said it was improving its technology, logistics and operational systems while also seeking stronger partnership with online publishers and other media organisations to provide Nigerians with accurate information throughout the electoral process.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, made the disclosure in a keynote address delivered by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Lagos State, Prof. Ayobami Salami, at the 10th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Lagos.
The conference, themed “2027 Elections – Trust, Transparency and Shared Responsibilities,” brought together media professionals, election stakeholders, academics and civil society groups to discuss how public confidence can be strengthened ahead of the polls.
Amupitan said INEC had recorded progress in implementing its electoral timetable and had embarked on reforms covering election administration, technology, staff training, logistics and field operations.
He disclosed that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise conducted between August 2025 and July 2026 produced more than 10.6 million new voters, increasing Nigeria’s voter register to a historic 103 million after data processing and verification.
The INEC chairman announced that nationwide collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) would begin on Friday, October 9, 2026, urging media organisations to help educate citizens on collection procedures and designated centres.
He said the media remained a critical partner in ensuring that voters receive timely and verified information about election activities.
On technology, Amupitan said INEC had upgraded the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and enhanced the eEC8A platform to improve electronic visibility of polling unit results.
He added that the Commission was deploying artificial intelligence-supported auditing tools and strengthening cybersecurity measures to protect electoral systems from threats.
However, the INEC chairman stressed that technology alone could not guarantee credible elections, noting that public trust must be built through transparency, compliance with laws and effective communication.
He warned that fake news, unverified information, sensational reports, politically motivated narratives and AI-generated deepfakes could damage confidence in the electoral process and discourage citizens from participating.
Amupitan urged online publishers to avoid clickbait reporting and ensure that accuracy remained more important than speed when covering election matters.
To deepen cooperation with GOCOP, he proposed a three-point partnership framework involving digital fact-checking, stronger editorial standards and a nationwide voter education campaign.
The INEC chairman said the partnership would help provide Nigerians with reliable information, especially during the PVC collection exercise and other major stages of the electoral calendar.
Earlier, Conference Chairman, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, reminded stakeholders that voting was a constitutional right of Nigerians and urged INEC to deliver free, fair and credible elections in 2027.
Agbakoba raised concerns over issues expected to shape political discussions ahead of the polls, including fuel subsidy policy, election projections and the authority to declare election results.
He challenged presidential candidates to explain their plans on fuel subsidy and what they would do differently if elected.
Responding to questions on result declaration, Prof. Salami explained that only designated Returning Officers appointed by INEC have constitutional powers to announce election results.
He clarified that holding an INEC position does not automatically grant an official the authority to declare results, noting that even as a Resident Electoral Commissioner, he cannot return election results.
GOCOP President, Danlami Nmodu, MNI, said the conference was timely coming less than 100 days before the elections, stressing the need for free, fair and credible polls.
Nmodu urged political leaders to prioritise national interest above personal ambitions and called for stronger efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.
The conference also honoured the memory of late Dotun Oladipo, former GOCOP President and publisher of The Eagle Online, with Amupitan describing him as a pioneer of Nigerian digital journalism and a promoter of ethical online publishing.
As PVC collection begins nationwide, INEC reiterated its commitment to working with the media to ensure Nigerians have access to accurate, verified and timely information ahead of the 2027 elections.