2027 Elections: IPC, Daily Trust Hold Webinar for Journalists on Electoral Act
As preparations for the 2027 general elections gather pace, journalists and media practitioners have been urged to deepen their understanding of the Electoral Act 2026 and other legal issues...
As preparations for the 2027 general elections gather pace, journalists and media practitioners have been urged to deepen their understanding of the Electoral Act 2026 and other legal issues surrounding the electoral process.
These insights were shared on Wednesday during a webinar organised by the Daily Trust Foundation in partnership with the International Press Centre, titled “Webinar on Journalism and the Electoral Act (2026)”. The session aimed to deepen journalists’ understanding of the electoral law and urged them to look beyond press releases and routine events by examining what the law requires of political parties, candidates and the electoral body.
In his presentation on the Electoral Act 2026 and the media’s role in providing accurate information, Dr Sam Oguche, Coordinator of the Yiaga Africa Centre for Legislative Engagement, highlighted key features of the new electoral law and what journalists and citizens should understand to hold politicians and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accountable.
He noted that the Electoral Act 2026 provides two alternative ways to replace a lost, destroyed, defaced, torn or otherwise damaged PVC if the application is submitted no later than 90 days before polling day. He also said the law shortens INEC’s notice of election timeline from 360 days to 300 days.
Addressing recurring disputes within political parties, he said the Act abolishes indirect primaries to strengthen internal democracy and reduce pre-election conflicts, leaving only direct primaries and consensus arrangements. It also imposes stricter registration requirements, gives INEC stronger oversight of parties, introduces tougher penalties for non-compliance, and limits court intervention in some internal party matters.
He further stated that the Electoral Act preserves the principle that internal party affairs are non-justiciable, meaning courts should not interfere in such matters. He added that non-compliance attracts a ₦10 million fine and said disputes within political parties should be resolved internally rather than through the courts.
Dr Oguche said these measures reflect a deliberate move toward preventing disputes and promoting electoral stability through clearer procedures, stronger compliance mechanisms, and defined consequences for non-compliance.
He added that the Electoral Act continues to give INEC the power to determine the forms used in elections and to prescribe the format of ballot papers, including the symbols of political parties. He also said defects in official ballot paper markings should not invalidate a party’s votes unless the party or its agents are proven responsible.
Speaking on the role of the media in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process, he called on journalists to go beyond reporting events by educating citizens on electoral laws, monitoring political actors and institutions, and providing accurate information on voter registration, party primaries, election procedures and results.
Dr Oguche warned that the 2027 elections could become Nigeria’s most digitally influenced poll yet, increasing risks such as AI-generated content, deepfakes, manipulated videos and false election results. He stressed that accuracy must remain the guiding principle of election reporting.
He concluded that the credibility of the 2027 general election is already being shaped by the quality of information circulating in newsrooms, political institutions, courtrooms and digital platforms across the country.
As a result, he said journalists must verify information before publishing, rely on official sources, avoid amplifying rumours, use fact-checking tools, and correct errors promptly, stressing that accuracy should always come before speed. He added that election reporting demands high professional standards, including impartiality, restraint in language, verification of results, fairness, balance and adherence to ethical principles.
“The Electoral Act 2026 introduces major reforms designed to strengthen electoral integrity, transparency, accountability, and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process. How effective these reforms will depend largely on proper implementation, stakeholder compliance and public understanding of the law.
“The media remains a vital partner in electoral governance through accurate reporting, voter education, fact-checking and informed public discourse. As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, journalists must maintain the highest standards of professionalism, objectivity and ethical responsibility. Credible elections are not secured by law alone; they also depend on informed citizens, responsible institutions and a media committed to truth and accuracy,” he said.
In her intervention, Ms Nkiru Uzodi, the Programme Manager, Legislative/Gender Issues of the Policy G Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), explained that while journalists are familiar with regular reporting, there are still gaps in understanding the litigation procedures and representation of individuals as stated in the electoral matters.
She also identified some risks and opportunities in the new Electoral Act, stating that journalists must understand these crucial factors in the conduct of the elections and dwell on them for information and enlightenment of the members of the public.
Ms Uzodi highlighted key opportunities in the Electoral Act, including formal legal recognition of electronic result transmission, despite the fallback clause tied to Form EC8A; stronger administrative regulation of political parties by INEC; earlier resolution of candidate qualification disputes; greater transparency during result collation, if IReV functions effectively; and the review of results declared under duress or in violation of collation procedures.
She listed several risks in the Electoral Act, including compressed timelines that may strain INEC, party preparations and voter registration; inconsistent or partial enforcement of INEC’s expanded regulatory powers over political parties; higher campaign spending limits that could deepen financial barriers to politics; weak enforcement that may reduce deterrence for electoral offences; the inability to raise qualification complaints after elections; the loss of opposition parties’ opportunity to challenge such issues in court; and broad INEC discretion to review declared results without clear procedural guidelines.
She also urged journalists to watch for hate speech, identity- or religion-based campaigning, intimidation, inducement and sponsored disinformation. She called on them to monitor access for persons with disabilities, older voters, internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups during campaigns and elections.
In conclusion, Ms Uzodi called for stronger public-interest reporting, saying journalists should explain legal rules in simple, accessible language and show how technical amendments affect citizens so the public can better understand litigation reports.
In his remarks, Mr Lanre Arogundade, the Executive Director, urged journalists to apply the knowledge gained from the webinar on the Electoral Act in their future reports and to carry out their duties ethically. He also encouraged media practitioners and newsrooms to share the training with colleagues to promote collective learning and strengthen upcoming elections, including off-cycle polls.
In his comment, Dr Theophilus Abah, the Director General of the Daily Trust Foundation, also noted the essence of the discussion, noting that journalists sometimes fail to understand the legal perspective of the electioneering process, and this poses challenges to the understanding of the public. He encouraged the journalists to understand the Electoral Act 2026 before the elections to inform the public better.
No Comment! Be the first one.