NBC Warns Broadcasters, Bloggers Against Hate Speech, Fake News Ahead Of 2027 Elections
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has warned broadcasters, online publishers, bloggers and other participants in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding information ecosystem against using their platforms to spread misinformation, hate speech, inflammatory material and other content capable of undermining peaceful elections.
The warning comes as political campaigns for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections officially commence 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 political campaigns places an even greater responsibility on those who disseminate information to the public to uphold accuracy, fairness, professionalism and responsibility.
The NBC said radio and television broadcasters, in particular, must recognise the enormous influence their platforms have on public opinion and the choices citizens make during elections.
It therefore urged all licensed broadcasters to ensure that political coverage is fair, balanced and equitable, stressing that stations must not use their platforms to promote or suppress particular political parties, candidates or political viewpoints.
The Commission also warned against presenting unverified political claims, allegations, statistics or assertions as facts.
According to the statement, allegations involving corruption, criminality, electoral manipulation, misconduct and other issues capable of damaging the reputation of individuals or institutions must undergo appropriate editorial verification before being broadcast.
It added that the right of reply must be respected where a person or organisation has been genuinely misrepresented.
The NBC further cautioned presenters, anchors, reporters, producers and hosts of political programmes against presenting their personal political views as established facts.
It said presenters must not intimidate or harass guests, suppress opposing viewpoints or manipulate discussions in favour of particular political interests.
The Commission stressed that responsibility for what goes on air remains with the broadcaster, including materials introduced by guests, callers and panellists during live or interactive programmes.
The NBC said it would also closely monitor the allocation of political airtime, directing broadcasters to maintain accurate records showing the dates, programmes and duration of political airtime allocated to parties and candidates.
It emphasised that equal opportunity must go beyond merely making airtime available for sale, noting that editorial and programming practices must not systematically confer an unfair advantage on any political party, candidate or viewpoint.
The Commission also reminded broadcasters that political advertising must remain clearly distinguishable from news, editorial content, analysis and independent programming.
It said political advertisements are subject to the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and must meet the requirements of truth, decency, good taste and morality.
Of particular concern to the Commission is the potential use of broadcast, digital and social media platforms to spread inflammatory and divisive political content.
It warned against content capable of inciting violence, promoting hatred, threatening public order or deepening ethnic, religious, regional or political divisions.
The NBC said the political season must not become an avenue for mobilising Nigerians against one another.
It also cautioned broadcasters and other information disseminators against publishing election results or projections from unofficial sources.
The Commission said collated figures 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.
It stressed that election results and declarations of winners should only be broadcast as announced by the duly authorised electoral officer.
The Commission also reminded broadcasters of the statutory campaign silence period, directing that partisan political broadcasts, campaigns, jingles and announcements must cease no later than 24 hours before polling day.
The NBC said its monitoring of political broadcasts would be intensified throughout the electioneering period.
The monitoring will cover not only paid political advertisements but also news bulletins, current affairs programmes, political debates, phone-in programmes, interviews, commentaries, sponsored programmes, live broadcasts and other programming through which political content is disseminated.
It said particular attention would be paid to patterns of airtime allocation, fairness and balance, inflammatory content, misinformation, hate speech, incitement, presenter conduct, political advertising and compliance with the campaign silence period.
The NBC also urged online publishers, bloggers, social media commentators and other content creators involved in disseminating election-related information to exercise the highest degree of responsibility in the interest of national peace and democratic stability.
It 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 credibility of the information environment in which citizens make their choices.
The Commission therefore called on broadcasters, editors, presenters, producers, reporters, political advertisers, online publishers, bloggers and other stakeholders in the information ecosystem to avoid becoming vehicles for the spread of false, hateful, inflammatory or deliberately misleading information.
The NBC said its objective was not to restrict legitimate political expression or robust political debate, but to ensure that Nigeria’s information environment remains conducive to peaceful democratic participation.
The Commission urged all stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the relevant provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, the Electoral Act 2026 and applicable regulations and guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The current INEC timetable provides for Presidential and National Assembly campaigns to commence on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled to commence on September 9, 2026.
The NBC urged broadcasters and other stakeholders to approach the electioneering period not merely as a commercial opportunity but as a profound public responsibility.
It said responsible journalism, credible information and fair political discourse would be essential to protecting national cohesion and ensuring that Nigerians are able to make informed choices at the polls.
