Matilda Omonaiye/
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has warned broadcasters, online publishers, bloggers and other players in Nigeria’s information ecosystem against spreading misinformation, hate speech and inflammatory content capable of undermining peaceful elections.
The warning comes as political campaigns for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections officially commenced on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
In a statement issued by Moses Jolayemi, Technical Adviser to the NBC Director-General, Charles Ebuebu, the Commission said the commencement of electioneering places a heightened responsibility on those who disseminate information to uphold accuracy, fairness, professionalism and public responsibility.
The NBC said radio and television broadcasters, in particular, must recognise the enormous influence their platforms wield over public opinion and the choices Nigerians make at the polls.
It consequently directed licensed broadcasters to ensure that political coverage remains fair, balanced and equitable, warning that stations must not deploy their platforms to promote or suppress particular political parties, candidates or viewpoints.
The Commission also cautioned against presenting unverified political claims, allegations, statistics or assertions as established facts.
According to the statement, allegations involving corruption, criminality, electoral manipulation, misconduct or other matters capable of damaging the reputation of individuals or institutions must undergo appropriate editorial verification before broadcast.
It added that the right of reply must be respected where an individual or organisation has been genuinely misrepresented.
The NBC further warned presenters, anchors, reporters, producers and hosts of political programmes against presenting personal political opinions as established facts or manipulating discussions to favour particular political interests.
It said presenters must not intimidate or harass guests, suppress opposing viewpoints or skew political discussions, stressing that broadcasters remain responsible for everything transmitted on their platforms, including comments by guests, callers and panellists during live and interactive programmes.
NBC Tightens Scrutiny of Political Airtime
The Commission said it would closely scrutinise the allocation of political airtime and directed broadcasters to maintain accurate records showing the dates, programmes and duration of airtime allocated to political parties and candidates.
It stressed that equal opportunity goes beyond merely making airtime available for purchase, warning that editorial and programming practices must not systematically confer an unfair advantage on any political party, candidate or viewpoint.
Political advertisements, the NBC added, must be clearly distinguishable from news reports, editorial content, analysis and independent programming.
The Commission reminded broadcasters that political advertisements remain subject to the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and must comply with standards of truth, decency, good taste and morality.
Warning Over Hate Speech, Divisive Content
The NBC expressed particular concern over the potential use of broadcast, digital and social-media platforms to circulate inflammatory and divisive political content.
It warned against material capable of inciting violence, promoting hatred, threatening public order or deepening ethnic, religious, regional and political divisions.
According to the Commission, the election season must not become an avenue for mobilising Nigerians against one another.
It also cautioned broadcasters, online publishers and other information disseminators against spreading election results or projections obtained from unofficial sources.
The NBC said figures collated from polling stations, exit polls and other unofficial sources must not be used to project or speculate on which candidate is leading or likely to win an election.
Election results and declarations of winners, it stressed, should only be broadcast as announced by duly authorised electoral officers.
24-Hour Campaign Silence Period
The Commission also reminded broadcasters of the statutory campaign silence period, directing that partisan political broadcasts, campaign messages, jingles and announcements must cease not later than 24 hours before polling day.
It said monitoring of political broadcasts would be intensified throughout the electioneering period.
The surveillance will cover paid political advertisements, news bulletins, current affairs programmes, political debates, phone-in programmes, interviews, commentaries, sponsored programmes and live broadcasts, among other channels through which political content is disseminated.
According to the NBC, particular attention will be paid to airtime allocation, fairness and balance, inflammatory content, misinformation, hate speech, incitement, presenter conduct, political advertising and compliance with the campaign silence period.
Online Publishers, Bloggers Also Put on Notice
Extending its warning beyond conventional broadcasting, the NBC urged online publishers, bloggers, social-media commentators and other digital content creators involved in disseminating election-related information to exercise the highest degree of responsibility in the interest of national peace and democratic stability.
The Commission said the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process would depend not only on the conduct of political parties, candidates and electoral officials, but also on the integrity of the information environment in which citizens make their electoral choices.
It therefore urged broadcasters, editors, presenters, producers, reporters, political advertisers, online publishers, bloggers and other stakeholders to avoid becoming conduits for false, hateful, inflammatory or deliberately misleading information.
The NBC stressed that its objective was not to restrict legitimate political expression or robust debate, but to ensure that Nigeria’s information environment remains conducive to peaceful democratic participation.
It urged stakeholders to familiarise themselves with relevant provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, the Electoral Act 2026 and applicable regulations and guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Under the current INEC timetable, campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections commenced on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled to begin on September 9, 2026.
The NBC urged media organisations and other stakeholders to regard the electioneering period not merely as a commercial opportunity but as a profound public responsibility, stressing that responsible journalism, credible information and fair political discourse are critical to protecting national cohesion and enabling Nigerians to make informed choices at the polls.
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