2027: INEC, media relationship must be based on openness, mutual respect – NGE

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has harped on the relationship between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the media ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In his opening statement at the INEC-NGE Strategic Workshop on Monday, October 5, 2026, in Abuja, NGE President Eze Anaba highlighted the media’s role in building and sustaining the trust that should be central to election periods.

While acknowledging that the media cannot shoulder the trust-building responsibility on its own, Anaba added the vital role that timely and accessible information from the electoral body plays in a symbiotic relationship between both sides.

According to the NGE president, the relationship between INEC and the media must be founded on openness, mutual respect and regular engagement.

“Elections are not merely about casting ballots. They are about trust. They are about citizens believing that their votes will count, that the process will be transparent and that the institutions responsible for conducting elections will act fairly and professionally.

“The media has a critical role in building and sustaining that trust. As editors, we determine, to a significant extent, 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.

“At the same time, we recognise that the media cannot perform this responsibility effectively without credible, timely and accessible information from the electoral management body.

“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,” Anaba stated.

Speaking further, the NGE president said the workshop is an opportunity for those involved to “look beyond the traditional relationship between the electoral commission and the media.”

“We must ask ourselves difficult but necessary questions: How can INEC communicate more effectively with the public? How can editors and journalists report electoral processes more accurately?

“How do we collectively confront disinformation without undermining legitimate criticism? And how can we use the enormous reach and influence of the media to strengthen citizens’ confidence in our elections?

“The Guild believes strongly that a credible election is a shared responsibility.

“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 added.