Voter apathy poses serious threat to democratic consolidation, by Amupitan

By Lateef Ibrahim

The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan, SAN, has warned that voter apathy poses a serious threat to democratic consolidation, even as he described elections as the lifeblood of democracy.
Amupitan gave the warning at the 81st General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) in Abuja.
The INEC Chairman equally highlighted the importance of strict compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and a renewed commitment to professionalism as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election.
Amupitan, in his paper titled, “The Management of the Airwaves: An Assessment of the 2026 Nigerian Electoral Act on Broadcast Media Coverage of the Elections”, cautioned that the temptation to prioritise high-paying political advertisements over balanced reporting would intensify as campaigns gather momentum.
His words, “As we sit here today, April 8, 2026, the countdown has begun: 283 days remain until the Presidential and National Assembly Elections on January 16, 2027, and 304 days until the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections on February 6, 2027.
“The credibility of those polls would depend not only on logistics and technology, but on how responsibly the airwaves are managed”, he said.
“Do not wait for the post-mortem,” Prof. Amupitan said, adding, “Kill the fake news on your morning shows before it reaches the afternoon bulletin.”
Continuing, he said, “In this 2027 roadmap, the temptation to prioritise high-paying political adverts over balanced reporting will be great. Choose the sanctity of the ballot”.
Reiterating that INEC’s official website and digital platforms remain authoritative sources of electoral information, Amupitan assured broadcasters of continued engagement by Commission officials authorised to speak with the media.
He added, “Elections are no longer contested only at the polling units. They are contested in the information space.
“I urge the broadcast media to rise against mis- and disinformation so as to protect the sanctity of our electoral process.”
He concluded by saying the credibility of Nigeria’s elections depends not only on the conduct of voting but also on the fairness of the communicative environment within which political competition occurs.
He therefore urged broadcast houses to discharge their responsibilities within the ambit of the law and in the overriding interest of the nation.