INEC warns politicians against ‘Rig and Die’ slogan, says electoral offenders will face prosecution

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has condemned the growing use of the “rig and die” slogan by some political actors ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that such rhetoric could provoke violence and endanger innocent Nigerians involved in the electoral process.

The Commission also warned that electoral officials, including ad hoc personnel, found guilty of compromising the integrity of elections would face the full weight of the law.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, gave the warning during a media engagement forum for journalists and media executives from the South-East, South-South and South-West geopolitical zones in Enugu.

Haruna cautioned politicians against threats and inflammatory statements capable of putting presiding officers, temporary election workers, party agents and observers at risk.

He maintained that grievances arising from election results should be addressed through lawful procedures, including petitions to INEC, complaints to security agencies and litigation, rather than resorting to violence.

The National Commissioner also called for stronger cooperation between INEC and the media, describing journalists as important partners in ensuring credible, peaceful and transparent elections.

He said public confidence in the electoral process depended significantly on accurate, balanced and professional reporting, warning that misinformation, manipulated videos, unverified results and sensational political narratives could undermine trust and trigger unrest.

Haruna specifically cautioned journalists against announcing results prematurely or presenting projections and unofficial figures as results declared by the Commission.

“Results are declared only by the Commission through its duly appointed returning officers. Projections and unofficial figures must be clearly labelled as such,” he said.

He urged media organisations to verify allegations involving INEC through the Commission’s official channels before publication. He also advised journalists to distinguish between incidents they witnessed personally and information obtained from other sources.

Haruna further advocated inclusive election coverage that gives adequate attention to women, young people and persons with disabilities, particularly the obstacles they encounter in participating in elections.

He called on media organisations to intensify voter education on Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), accreditation procedures, electronic transmission of results and peaceful participation in the electoral process.

Journalists urged to uphold professional standards

Speaking on ethical and professional standards in election reporting, another resource person, Osaretin Imahheyierobo, urged journalists to familiarise themselves with the Electoral Act 2026, INEC’s election coverage guidelines and the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.

He expressed concern that some journalists covering elections were not sufficiently conversant with the laws and regulations governing electoral reporting.

Imahheyierobo called on media organisations to establish dedicated election desks, develop clear editorial policies and strengthen fact-checking systems ahead of the 2027 polls.

He also urged journalists to understand the workings of INEC’s technological platforms, particularly the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), to avoid misleading reports about accreditation, voting and result management.

The resource person warned media practitioners against accepting inducements, popularly known as brown envelopes, at the expense of professional ethics.

He said political candidates should be subjected to proper scrutiny rather than having their promises, claims and manifestoes amplified without critical examination.

He also advocated fair media access for all political parties and candidates, noting that voters relied on the media for information needed to make informed electoral decisions.

INEC receives 35,000 PVCs for distribution in Enugu

Earlier, the Enugu State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, said the engagement was part of efforts to strengthen the Commission’s relationship with the media ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Chukwu described journalists as strategic partners in voter education, public enlightenment and accountability, but warned that misinformation could damage the credibility of the electoral process.

He disclosed that INEC had received approximately 35,000 Permanent Voter Cards for distribution across the 260 wards in Enugu State.

The REC appealed to journalists to support public awareness campaigns to encourage eligible voters to collect their cards.

While acknowledging the media’s independence and watchdog responsibilities, Chukwu urged practitioners to maintain accuracy, objectivity, fairness and professionalism in their coverage of electoral activities.

He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to conducting transparent, inclusive and peaceful elections in 2027, adding that INEC remained open to constructive criticism and recommendations from media stakeholders.

He also urged journalists to educate voters on the procedures and responsibilities involved before, during and after elections.

NUJ raises concerns over journalists’ election logistics

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State Council, Comrade Obinna Ogbuka, commended INEC for organising the engagement but expressed concern that the initiative had not commenced early enough to accommodate more journalists before the election cycle gathered momentum.

Ogbuka also questioned the apparent absence of adequate budgetary provisions for journalists’ logistics during election assignments, arguing that media practitioners needed sufficient support to carry out their responsibilities effectively.

He further raised concerns about declining public confidence in INEC and urged the Commission to take deliberate steps to rebuild public trust before the 2027 elections.

Other presentations at the one-day forum examined the legal and regulatory framework for elections, provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and guidelines governing the publication and announcement of election results.

Participants commended INEC’s preparations for the 2027 polls but urged the Commission to address weaknesses identified in previous elections, particularly the technical challenges that affected electronic transmission of results during the 2023 presidential election.

They also called on the electoral body to recognise journalists as critical stakeholders whose contributions are essential to the conduct of credible elections.

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