Key Takeaways

• INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan has warned media organisations against announcing election results based on privately collated figures during the 2027 general elections.
• He urged media houses to verify election information with INEC before publishing or broadcasting results.
• Amupitan also advised media organisations to establish fact-checking desks and use digital forensic tools during the election period.
• INEC says a BVAS transmission problem at one or several polling units will not automatically stop electoral activities in unaffected areas.
• The commission said it has acquired 57,000 additional BVAS devices and is replacing batteries on existing equipment.
• Amupitan said the Electoral Act provides for postponement at a polling unit where BVAS fails and the problem cannot be resolved.

INEC Warns Media Against Unofficial Election Results

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned media organisations against declaring election results from privately collated figures during the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan issued the warning in Abuja on Tuesday during a national stakeholders’ meeting organised ahead of the 2027 election.

According to Amupitan, media organisations should verify election-related information with the commission before publishing or broadcasting results.

He also called on media houses to establish dedicated fact-checking desks and use digital forensic tools to authenticate information, particularly during the election period.

Amupitan said the media has an important responsibility in ensuring that Nigerians receive accurate information throughout the electoral process.

Why INEC Wants Media Houses To Verify Results

The commission’s warning centres on the distinction between privately collated figures and results officially declared by the electoral authority.

Amupitan urged media organisations to resist announcing privately collated results, saying the Electoral Act places the authority to declare results in national elections with the commission.

He said:

“Establish fact-checking desks and use digital forensic tools in verifying your information. Verify with INEC before you publish.”

The INEC chairman also stressed the importance of accuracy over speed, telling media organisations that:

“It is far more important to be right than to be the first.”

The emphasis places greater responsibility on news organisations to authenticate election information before presenting figures to the public as official results.

INEC Explains What Happens If BVAS Transmission Fails

Beyond the warning to media organisations, INEC also addressed concerns over possible technical problems involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during the 2027 elections.

Amupitan said a transmission failure at an individual polling unit, or even a group of polling units, would not automatically bring electoral activities across other areas to a halt.

The clarification comes amid concerns about the technical difficulties experienced during the 2023 general elections, particularly issues involving the transmission of polling-unit results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

According to the chairman, INEC is upgrading both BVAS and IReV to improve their performance before the 2027 elections.

INEC Acquires 57,000 Additional BVAS Devices

As part of the technology upgrade, Amupitan said the commission had acquired 57,000 additional BVAS devices equipped with inbuilt batteries.

He added that many existing batteries were also being replaced as part of efforts to minimise equipment-related problems.

Amupitan said:

“We are doing some work with regard to our BVAS and also our IReV to ensure optimal performance.”

He added that the commission was taking steps to address battery-related concerns and improve the transmission of election results.

The chairman said the upgrades were intended to reduce the possibility of technical difficulties affecting the transmission process during the 2027 elections.

A BVAS Problem In One Area Will Not Automatically Stop Voting Elsewhere

Amupitan further explained that a transmission problem affecting one polling unit or a group of polling units would not necessarily prevent voting and other electoral activities from continuing in unaffected locations.

He said the commission would assess the number of polling units affected and determine the broader implications of the problem.

According to him, collation could continue where the affected polling units did not have an impact on the overall outcome of the election.

He explained:

“If for any reason there is an inability to transmit from a particular polling unit or from a group of polling units, that will not stop the election from continuing in other places.”

The clarification means that a technical problem at a particular location would need to be assessed within the wider electoral process rather than automatically being treated as a reason to halt activities nationwide.

When Can BVAS Failure Affect An Election?

INEC’s position does not mean every BVAS problem can simply be ignored.

Amupitan stressed that the Electoral Act provides for an election to be postponed in a polling unit where BVAS fails and the technical problem cannot be resolved.

This creates an important distinction between a transmission problem that can be managed within the electoral process and a failure that cannot be resolved at the affected polling unit.

The commission’s explanation therefore places emphasis on assessing the nature and extent of any technical failure before determining its effect on the election.

What INEC’s Position Means Ahead Of 2027

The two issues raised by Amupitan point to the commission’s broader focus on the management and verification of election information ahead of the 2027 general elections.

For media organisations, INEC is demanding stronger verification procedures before election figures are published or broadcast.

For the electoral technology itself, the commission says it is upgrading BVAS and IReV, expanding its equipment inventory and replacing batteries to improve reliability.

The commission has also clarified that a technical problem affecting some polling units would not automatically stop electoral activities in other locations.

At the same time, the chairman acknowledged that the law provides for postponement where BVAS fails at a polling unit and the problem cannot be resolved.

What To Watch Ahead Of The 2027 Elections

The performance of BVAS and IReV, the effectiveness of INEC’s technology upgrades and the ability of media organisations to verify election information will remain important issues as the 2027 general elections approach.

The commission’s implementation of the additional BVAS equipment and battery replacements will also be closely watched as preparations continue.

For voters and media organisations, the key issue will be how technical problems and election-result information are handled when the electoral process begins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can media organisations declare election results in the 2027 elections?

INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan has warned media organisations against announcing privately collated results and urged them to verify election information with INEC before publishing or broadcasting it.

What did INEC advise media organisations to do?

The commission advised media houses to establish fact-checking desks, use digital forensic tools and verify election-related information with INEC before publication.

Will a BVAS transmission failure automatically stop the 2027 election?

No. Amupitan said a failure affecting an individual polling unit or group of polling units would not automatically stop electoral activities in unaffected areas.

What happens if BVAS fails and the problem cannot be resolved?

Amupitan said the Electoral Act provides for an election to be postponed in a polling unit where BVAS fails and the problem cannot be resolved.

How many additional BVAS devices has INEC acquired?

According to Amupitan, INEC has acquired 57,000 additional BVAS devices, equipped with inbuilt batteries.

Is INEC upgrading IReV ahead of 2027?

Yes. Amupitan said the commission is working on both BVAS and IReV to improve their performance ahead of the 2027 elections.

What This Means For The 2027 Electoral Process

INEC’s latest position puts two issues at the centre of its preparations: accurate reporting of election results and the resilience of the technology supporting the electoral process.

The commission wants media organisations to verify figures before presenting them to the public, while its technology upgrades are intended to improve BVAS and IReV performance.

As the 2027 elections draw closer, how these measures perform in practice will be an important part of the wider electoral process.