2027 Elections: INEC, NOA Move to Crush Election Misinformation Through Grassroots Campaign

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has launched a nationwide push to curb election misinformation ahead of the 2027 general elections, forging a strategic partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to take voter education to the grassroots and counter the spread of fake news.

The initiative, unveiled on Wednesday during a strategic engagement at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, is designed to combat false narratives capable of undermining public confidence, discouraging voter participation and threatening the credibility of future elections.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, described misinformation as one of the most serious challenges confronting Nigeria’s electoral process, warning that fake news has increasingly been deployed to manipulate public opinion and weaken trust in democratic institutions.

He said although the commission has strengthened election management through technology, logistics and administrative reforms, such efforts would have limited impact if Nigerians continued to rely on false information about the electoral process.

Amupitan cited the recent Federal Capital Territory Area Council election as an example, recalling how misleading social media posts falsely claimed that election results had already been compromised before voting commenced.

He said an old video depicting election violence was recycled and circulated as a current incident, while unfounded allegations of hundreds of thousands of illegally stored Permanent Voter Cards for a political party were also spread online.

“Although these claims were later debunked, they succeeded in creating unnecessary fear, confusion and distrust among voters,” he said.

To address the growing challenge, the INEC chairman said the commission would work with NOA to deliver sustained voter education campaigns in local languages, educate citizens on electoral procedures, dispel false narratives and encourage active participation in the 2027 elections.

He stressed that restoring confidence in the electoral process requires not only credible election management but also an informed electorate capable of identifying and rejecting misinformation.

Amupitan likened the partnership to complementary roles in a football team, explaining that while INEC provides the legal and institutional framework for credible elections, NOA possesses the grassroots communication structure needed to reach citizens across the country.

Responding, NOA Director-General, Mallam Issa Onilu, described the collaboration as a proactive step towards strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, saying civic education must become a continuous national exercise rather than an activity limited to election seasons.

According to him, lessons from the 2023 general elections showed that many young and first-time voters were influenced by misinformation circulating on digital platforms because of inadequate civic education.

He said NOA’s network of 818 offices across local government areas, states and zonal directorates would be mobilised to drive community-based sensitisation, promote accurate electoral information and gather public feedback.

Onilu added that rebuilding public trust in elections depends on transparency, consistent public engagement and credible information reaching citizens before false narratives take root.

Under the partnership, INEC and NOA will jointly implement a comprehensive grassroots civic education programme focused on combating election misinformation, promoting voter participation, clarifying electoral procedures and strengthening public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.