The question of whether media organisations can announce election results before the Independent National Electoral Commission makes its official declaration has generated renewed debate ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The debate follows a warning by INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, who urged media organisations to avoid independently declaring election winners based on privately collated results.
Amupitan gave the warning on October 6, 2026, during a press conference and national stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja. He advised journalists to verify election-related information with the commission before publication and establish fact-checking systems to prevent the spread of misinformation.
According to the INEC chairman, the Electoral Act reserves the authority to declare election results to the appropriate electoral officials. He stressed that accuracy should take priority over the desire to publish results before other media organisations.
However, the issue has raised questions about whether reporting results already announced at polling units is the same as officially declaring an election winner.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olisa Agbakoba, has argued that journalists, political parties and members of the public can publish authentic election results that have already been announced through the electoral process.
Agbakoba made his position known during an appearance on Arise Television, where he discussed the distinction between publishing verified results and formally declaring a winner.
He maintained that the exclusive authority of INEC to declare an election winner should not automatically prevent media organisations from reporting genuine results available to the public.
Agbakoba also emphasised the importance of verification, warning that media organisations must ensure the figures they publish are authentic and properly sourced.
Under Section 25 of the Electoral Act 2026, election results are announced at different stages of the electoral process, beginning at polling units and continuing through the relevant collation centres. The law identifies the appropriate electoral officials responsible for announcing results and declaring winners at the various levels of elections.
This process means that figures announced at individual polling units do not necessarily represent the final outcome of an entire election.
The debate also highlights the importance of distinguishing between reporting verified polling-unit results, publishing independent calculations and declaring a candidate the official winner.
Media organisations that publish election figures must ensure that their reports accurately reflect the available evidence and clearly explain whether the results are provisional, independently collated or officially declared.
The development has renewed discussions about the responsibilities of journalists during elections, particularly as digital platforms make it possible to circulate results rapidly across the country.
While early reporting can provide voters with information about the electoral process, inaccurate figures or premature declarations could mislead the public and undermine confidence in election administration.
As preparations for the 2027 general elections continue, media organisations face the challenge of balancing timely reporting with accuracy, verification and compliance with applicable electoral and broadcasting regulations.
The central issue remains the distinction between publishing authentic results already announced through the electoral process and presenting an independent tally as an official declaration of the winner.
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