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…Urges INEC, Editors to Deepen Partnership Against Misinformation, Disinformation
The President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Eze Anaba, has called for a stronger and more structured partnership between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigerian media to strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Anaba made the call on Monday, October 5, 2026, in Abuja while delivering his opening statement at the INEC–NGE Strategic Workshop organised by the electoral management body in collaboration with the Nigerian Guild of Editors.
The NGE President described the engagement as timely, particularly as the country approaches another round of elections, stressing that the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process remains a matter of profound national importance.
Welcoming the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, Commissioners of the Commission, members of the Guild, senior INEC officials and media practitioners, Anaba expressed the Guild’s appreciation to INEC for facilitating the engagement.
According to him, the workshop was necessary to deepen and strengthen the relationship between the electoral management body and the leadership of the media.
“Elections are not merely about casting ballots. They are about trust,” Anaba said, stressing that citizens must believe that their votes will count, that the electoral process will be transparent and that institutions responsible for conducting elections will act fairly and professionally.
He identified the media as a critical institution in building and sustaining that trust, noting that editors have significant influence over what information reaches the public, how it is presented and the context in which it is understood.
“With that responsibility comes an obligation to uphold accuracy, fairness, balance and the public interest,” he said.
Anaba, however, noted that the media could not effectively discharge its responsibilities without credible, timely and accessible information from the electoral management body.
He warned that the need for closer engagement had become more urgent in an information environment increasingly affected by misinformation, disinformation, manipulated content, deepfakes and partisan narratives.
“In an environment increasingly polluted by misinformation, disinformation, manipulated content, deepfakes and partisan narratives, the relationship between INEC and the media must therefore be one founded on openness, mutual respect and regular engagement,” he said.
The NGE President said the workshop offered an opportunity for both institutions to move beyond the traditional relationship between the electoral commission and the media and develop practical approaches to improving electoral communication and reporting.
He urged participants to critically examine how INEC could communicate more effectively with the public, how editors and journalists could report electoral processes more accurately and how stakeholders could collectively confront disinformation without undermining legitimate criticism.
He also challenged participants to explore how the enormous reach and influence of the media could be deployed to strengthen citizens’ confidence in elections.
Anaba maintained that the responsibility for credible elections could not be placed on INEC alone, describing electoral credibility as a shared responsibility involving the electoral management body, political parties, candidates, the media and citizens.
“The Guild believes strongly that a credible election is a shared responsibility,” he said.
“INEC has its constitutional mandate; political parties and candidates have their responsibilities; the media has its own obligations; and ultimately, citizens must be adequately informed and empowered to participate in the democratic process.”
He further stressed that the credibility of the media itself was an essential component of the credibility of the electoral process.
“The credibility of the media is itself an essential component of the credibility of the electoral process,” Anaba declared.
The NGE President urged participants at the workshop to approach their deliberations with candour, open-mindedness and a willingness to listen.
He called on the stakeholders to identify gaps in their existing relationship, confront challenges honestly and develop practical strategies capable of improving electoral communication and media coverage.
Anaba reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Guild of Editors to working with INEC and other stakeholders towards promoting elections that Nigerians could trust and a media that citizens could rely upon for credible information.
He expressed confidence that the discussions initiated at the workshop would extend beyond the event and become the foundation for a stronger, more structured and continuous partnership between INEC and the Nigerian media.
“I am confident that the conversations we begin here will not end with this workshop. Rather, they should mark the beginning of a stronger, more structured and continuous partnership between INEC and the Nigerian media,” he said.
He subsequently wished participants fruitful deliberations and meaningful outcomes, while concluding with prayers for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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