The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has urged journalists and media organisations to verify every election-related claim before publication, describing disinformation and misinformation as major threats to the credibility of the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election.

Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Oluwatoyin Babalola, gave the charge on Thursday during a dialogue and interactive forum with journalists and critical stakeholders organised by the International Press Centre, IPC, under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Phase II, EU-SDGN II, programme in Osogbo.

Speaking on the theme, ‘INEC’s Preparations, the Media’s Role in Voter Education, and Countering Electoral Disinformation and Misinformation Ahead of the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election’, Babalola said false information could create unnecessary panic, suppress voter turnout, damage public confidence and trigger avoidable tensions.

She urged journalists to remain vigilant by verifying election-related claims, relying on official information from INEC and other authorised institutions, promptly correcting inaccurate reports and working with fact-checking organisations to debunk false narratives.

According to her, “One of the greatest threats to credible elections today is the deliberate spread of false information. Disinformation and misinformation can create unnecessary panic, suppress voter turnout, damage public confidence, and trigger avoidable tensions.”

The REC said preparations for the governorship election were progressing in line with the Electoral Act, INEC Regulations and Guidelines, as well as established operational procedures.

She explained that the commission had continued to engage political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, and the media while strengthening voter education, training election personnel, testing election technologies and reviewing logistics for the poll.

Babalola also disclosed that INEC was coordinating security preparations through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, to ensure a peaceful electoral environment, adding that the commission would continue to provide timely updates through its official communication channels.

She described the media as an indispensable partner in the electoral process, saying a well-informed electorate remained fundamental to the success of any democratic election.

“The media has a constitutional and professional responsibility to educate citizens on electoral processes, promote issue-based campaigns, explain voting procedures and encourage peaceful participation,” she said.

She advised media organisations to provide accurate voter education, ensure equitable coverage of political parties and candidates, amplify official information from INEC, discourage hate speech and promote issue-based rather than personality-driven campaigns.

Babalola stressed that accuracy, fairness, balance and professionalism should remain the guiding principles of election reporting, noting that informed voters were better equipped to make independent electoral choices and resist manipulation through false information.

Babalola reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to openness, accountability and continuous engagement with stakeholders, saying the responsibility for delivering a peaceful, credible and acceptable election rests not on the commission alone but on the collective commitment of the media, security agencies, political parties, civil society organisations and voters.

Earlier, Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade, said the stakeholders’ interface formed part of ongoing efforts under the EU-SDGN II programme to strengthen media professionalism, counter misinformation and promote inclusive electoral participation ahead of the Osun governorship election.

Also speaking, Executive Director of the Centre for Media and Society, CEMESO, Dr Akin Akingbulu, called on journalists to intensify civic and voter education, strengthen fact-checking and uphold conflict-sensitive reporting, noting that the Osun governorship election would serve as an important test of the country’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Jigawa State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has petitioned the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark, seeking the immediate replacement of its governorship candidate over allegations that he was indicted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for the alleged diversion of constituency project funds.

The petition, written by Abubakar Sani and Ibrahim Maijamaa, both members of the ADC in Jigawa State, read in part, “With a heavy sense of commitment and responsibility to our great Party, we, the bonafide registered members of the Party from Gwaram Local Government Chapter of Jigawa State seek the indulgence of your good offices to forward our petition against Sen Sabo Nakudu.”

The petitioners said it had become public knowledge that Senator Sabo Nakudu, who represented the Jigawa South-West Senatorial District from 2015 to 2023, was indicted for allegedly short-changing his constituency, according to the ICPC Report Phase II (Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI)).

According to the report cited by the Jigawa ADC, the ICPC recovered public funds totalling N2.8 billion from Senator Sabo Nakudu and two others. It added that, apart from the recovered funds, the commission also recovered two Hilux trucks, hundreds of water pumping machines, motorcycles and drilling rigs from two companies allegedly owned by Senator Sabo and operated by his brothers.

The petitioners stated, “It is in view of the foregoing incontrovertible and damaging indictment against Sen. Sabo Nakudu, that we wish to draw your attention on the dangers of allowing him to become the anointed ADC Gubernatorial Candidate for Jigawa State in the forthcoming 2027 General elections as it would be an exercise in futility.”

They further alleged that Sabo, while serving as an APC senator, escaped prosecution but, now that he is an indicted member of the main opposition party in the state and the country at large, the ruling APC could frustrate the ADC’s determination to win power in Jigawa State despite the party’s growing popularity.

When contacted by telephone, Sabo Nakudu said he had not seen the petition and could not comment on a document he had not read.

The Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed July 14, 2026, for the substantive hearing of a suit filed by an Accord Party chieftain, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, seeking an order compelling the party to recognise him as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election and forward his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Hashim, who named Accord Party and INEC as first and second defendants in an Originating Summons, is asking the court to determine whether the party’s failure to upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal — despite emerging as sole winner of the party’s presidential primary on May 30, 2026 — violates the Electoral Act 2026, the Constitution, and INEC’s guidelines for political parties.

He is seeking a declaration that the party’s refusal to forward his name breaches Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026 and Clauses 28(1) and (2) of the electoral guidelines on candidate nomination, and wants the court to order Accord Party to upload and submit his name to INEC.

In the alternative, he is asking the court to direct the party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would participate, should the court decline to order submission of his name.

In an affidavit supporting the suit, Hashim described himself as a registered and financial member of Accord Party, and stated that he sponsored the party’s electronic membership drive with a payment of ₦7 million.

He said he also paid the prescribed ₦50 million nomination fee to contest the presidential primary, emerging as the sole aspirant and winner of the exercise, which he said was monitored by INEC officials in line with the Electoral Act.

He alleged that despite his victory, the party failed to submit his name to INEC, and that it had not issued aspirants with guidelines for the primary as required by INEC regulations, though he proceeded on the strength of assurances he said were given by the party’s national leadership.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Henry Akunebu, SAN, argued in the written address that political parties are legally bound to comply with the Electoral Act, their constitutions and INEC’s guidelines in nominating candidates, and that a party which conducts a valid primary is statutorily obligated to submit the winner’s name to INEC.

He urged the court to uphold internal party democracy by granting all the reliefs sought.

INEC granted time to respond

Earlier in proceedings, Justice Mohammed Umar granted a motion by INEC’s counsel, H.S. Danjuma, for an extension of time to file its memorandum of appearance, deeming it properly filed and served.

Danjuma told the court his chambers were briefed by the commission on July 6 and sought a short adjournment to file a counter-affidavit and written address.

While counsel to Accord Party, Egasi Olusesi, did not oppose the adjournment, Akunebu urged the court to foreclose INEC from the suit and proceed directly to the substantive case, arguing that the commission had breached the Practice Directions for pre-election matters by failing to respond within the stipulated 10-day window, citing Rule 6(4) and (5).

In a short ruling, Justice Umar held that the matter was listed for report of service and hearing, and adjourned the case to July 14 for hearing of the substantive suit.

The case is expected to test the application of the Electoral Act 2026 and reinforce judicial scrutiny of internal party democracy ahead of the 2027 general election.