Ekiti Guber: INEC raises alarm over voter apathy, fake news ahead of June 20 poll

By Rotimi Ojomoyela, Ado-Ekiti

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concern over rising voter apathy and the increasing spread of fake news ahead of the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State, warning that both pose serious threats to democratic participation and electoral credibility.

The warning was issued in Ado-Ekiti during a “Forum for Media Executives, Producers, Reporters and On-Air Personalities” organised by INEC as part of preparations for the off-cycle governorship poll.

Speaking at the forum, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Kudu Haruna, described declining voter turnout as a growing democratic challenge requiring urgent attention from stakeholders, particularly the media.

He noted that voter participation in Nigeria has steadily declined since the return to democratic rule in 1999, falling from about 60 per cent in the early years to nearly 30 per cent in recent elections.

Haruna added that although Ekiti State recorded about 40 per cent turnout in the 2022 governorship election—relatively high for off-cycle polls—more than half of registered voters still stayed away from the ballot.

He warned that persistent voter apathy weakens democratic legitimacy and risks producing governments that do not fully reflect the will of the electorate.

According to him, Ekiti State recorded 66,664 new voter registrations between 2025 and 2026, bringing the total number of registered voters in the state to 1,059,360 after updates and transfers.

Haruna urged the media to play a more active role in reversing the trend, stressing that journalists are key mobilisers of civic participation.

“No challenge demands more urgent attention from all of us in this room than the crisis of voter apathy,” he said. “For too long, we have accepted a democracy where 70 per cent stay away while 30 per cent decide the future for everyone.”

He also called on media practitioners to strengthen fact-checking mechanisms and verify election-related information through INEC’s official channels before publication, adding that the commission remains committed to providing credible electoral information.

In his remarks, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, warned that fake news, misinformation and disinformation—especially on social media—pose significant risks to the electoral process.

He said manipulated videos, misleading headlines and false reports could trigger panic, undermine public confidence, and threaten the peaceful conduct of elections.

Omoseyindemi urged journalists to avoid sensational reporting and divisive narratives, while promoting issue-based campaigns and balanced coverage of all political parties.

He also encouraged closer collaboration between the media and INEC to ensure timely verification of election-related information.

“The media is not just an observer in the electoral process; it is a strategic partner in safeguarding democracy,” he said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ekiti State, Kayode Babatuyi, reaffirmed the union’s commitment to combating fake news and promoting ethical journalism ahead of the election.

He said the union had integrated online journalists into its structure to improve accountability and curb misinformation in the digital space.

Babatuyi added that most cases of fake news often originate from politically motivated social media actors rather than professional journalists, and urged reporters to remain committed to accuracy, fairness and verification in their work.

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