By Oluwagbemiga Toye
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concern over increasing voter apathy and the spread of fake news ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State, warning that both could undermine democratic participation and the credibility of the electoral process.
The warning was issued on Tuesday during a forum organised for media executives, producers, reporters and on-air personalities in Ado-Ekiti as part of preparations for the off-cycle election.
Speaking at the event, the National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Kudu Haruna, described declining voter turnout as a major threat to democracy, urging the media to intensify efforts toward voter mobilisation.
According to him, voter participation in Nigeria has steadily declined since the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999. He noted that turnout, which stood at about 60 per cent in the early years of democracy, has dropped to nearly 30 per cent in recent elections nationwide.
Haruna stated that although the 2022 Ekiti governorship election recorded about 40 per cent voter turnout — considered relatively high among recent off-cycle elections — the figure still showed that more than half of registered voters did not participate in the exercise.
He warned that low turnout weakens democratic legitimacy and allows a small percentage of the population to determine the future of the larger society.
The commissioner disclosed that 66,664 new voters were registered in Ekiti between 2025 and 2026, bringing the total number of registered voters in the state to 1,059,360 after transfers and updates.
“No challenge demands more urgent attention than the crisis of voter apathy. For too long, we have accepted a democracy where 70 per cent stay away while 30 per cent decide the future for everyone,” he said.
Haruna also urged media organisations to establish effective fact-checking mechanisms and verify information before publication or broadcast, stressing that INEC remained committed to providing accurate electoral information.
“The media is not merely a reporter of events at the polls; it is also a mobiliser of participation,” he added.
In his remarks, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, highlighted the dangers posed by fake news, misinformation and disinformation, especially on social media and unverified online platforms.
He warned that manipulated videos, misleading headlines and false election reports could create panic, erode public trust and threaten the peaceful conduct of the election.
Omoseyindemi appealed to journalists to uphold professionalism by avoiding sensational and divisive reports capable of heating up the polity. He also encouraged the media to focus on issue-based campaigns, provide balanced coverage for political parties and collaborate closely with INEC for verification of election-related information.
“We have observed in recent elections how fake news can spread rapidly and create tension capable of affecting voter turnout, public trust and even security,” he said.
Also speaking at the forum, the Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kayode Babatuyi, reaffirmed the union’s commitment to promoting ethical journalism and combating fake news ahead of the governorship election.
Babatuyi disclosed that the NUJ had integrated online publishers into its structure through the establishment of an online chapel aimed at ensuring accountability and adherence to professional ethics among digital media practitioners.
According to him, most misinformation circulating online often emanates from politically motivated social media users rather than trained journalists.
He urged journalists to remain committed to accuracy, fairness and verification while supporting efforts to ensure peaceful, credible and transparent elections in Ekiti State.
