He National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has warned broadcasters, online publishers, bloggers and other media players not to use their platforms to spread misinformation, hate speech and inflammatory content as campaigns for the 2027 elections begin.
Political campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections began on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
In a statement by Moses Jolayemi, Technical Adviser to the Director-General, Mr. Charles Ebuebu, the Commission said the commencement of the campaigns places greater responsibility on information disseminators to maintain accuracy, fairness and professionalism.
NBC said radio and television stations, given their broad reach, must ensure that political coverage is fair, balanced and equitable. It warned stations against using their platforms to promote or suppress particular parties, candidates or points of view.
The Commission also warned against presenting as facts unverified claims, accusations, statistics or claims.
“Allegations of corruption, criminality, electoral manipulation, misconduct and other matters capable of damaging the reputation of individuals or institutions must be subject to appropriate editorial verification before being disseminated,” he stated.
He added that the right of reply should be granted when a person or organization has been misrepresented.
Hosts and presenters were also asked not to pass off their personal political views as facts or to intimidate guests and suppress opposing opinions. NBC noted that broadcasters remain responsible for content aired by guests, callers and panelists on live shows.
Regarding political airtime, the Commission ordered broadcasters to keep accurate records of the dates, programs and duration assigned to parties and candidates. He said equal opportunity must go beyond selling airtime, and that editorial practices must not give an unfair advantage to any party or candidate.
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Political ads, NBC said, must be clearly separated from news and editorial content and must comply with the Nigerian Broadcasting Code on truth, decency and good taste.
The Commission expressed particular concern about the use of digital and broadcast platforms to disseminate divisive content capable of inciting violence or deepening ethnic, religious and political divisions.
“The political season must not become a way to mobilize Nigerians against each other,” he warned.
NBC also prohibited broadcasters and online editors from announcing election results or projections from unofficial sources, such as voting units or exit polls. He said only results announced by duly authorized INEC officials should be transmitted.
Additionally, he reminded stations of the legal campaign quiet period, which requires all broadcasts, jingles and partisan ads to stop 24 hours before Election Day.
The Commission said monitoring of political broadcasts would be intensified to cover advertisements, news, debates, call-in shows, interviews, sponsored programs and live broadcasts. The focus will be on airtime allocation, balance, hate speech, misinformation and compliance with the rule of silence.
NBC also urged online editors, bloggers and social media commentators to be responsible, saying the credibility of the electoral process depends on the information environment.
“Our goal is not to restrict legitimate political expression or robust debate, but rather to ensure that Nigeria’s information environment remains conducive to peaceful democratic participation,” the Commission said.
He urged all stakeholders to familiarize themselves with the Nigerian Broadcasting Code, the Electoral Act 2026 and the INEC guidelines.
According to the INEC schedule, the presidential and National Assembly campaigns began on August 19, 2026, while the Governorship and State Assembly campaigns will begin on September 9, 2026.
NBC called on media professionals to consider the election period as a public responsibility and not just a commercial opportunity.
“Responsible journalism, credible information and fair political discourse will be essential to protect national cohesion and ensure that Nigerians can make informed decisions at the ballot box,” he said.
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