The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has warned broadcasters, online publishers, bloggers and other media players against using their platforms to spread misinformation, hate speech and inflammatory content as campaigns for the 2027 elections begin.

Political campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections commenced on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

In a statement by Moses Jolayemi, Technical Adviser to the Director-General, Mr. Charles Ebuebu, the Commission said the start of campaigns places greater responsibility on information disseminators to uphold accuracy, fairness and professionalism.

The NBC said radio and television stations, given their wide reach, must ensure political coverage is fair, balanced and equitable. It warned stations against using their platforms to promote or suppress particular parties, candidates or viewpoints.

The Commission also cautioned against presenting unverified claims, allegations, statistics or assertions as facts.

“Allegations involving corruption, criminality, electoral manipulation, misconduct and other issues capable of damaging the reputation of individuals or institutions must be subjected to appropriate editorial verification before being broadcast,” it stated.

It added that the right of reply must be granted where a person or organisation has been misrepresented.

Presenters and anchors were also told not to pass off personal political views as facts or to intimidate guests and suppress opposing opinions. The NBC stressed that broadcasters remain liable for content aired by guests, callers and panellists on live programmes.

On political airtime, the Commission directed broadcasters to keep accurate records of the dates, programmes and duration allocated to parties and candidates. It said equal opportunity must go beyond selling airtime, and editorial practices must not give an unfair advantage to any party or candidate.

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Political advertisements, the NBC said, must be clearly separated from news and editorial content and must comply with the Nigeria Broadcasting Code on truth, decency and good taste.

The Commission expressed particular concern over the use of broadcast and digital platforms to spread divisive content capable of inciting violence or deepening ethnic, religious and political divisions.

“The political season must not become an avenue for mobilising Nigerians against one another,” it warned.

The NBC also barred broadcasters and online publishers from announcing election results or projections from unofficial sources such as polling units or exit polls. It said only results announced by duly authorised INEC officials should be broadcast.

It further reminded stations of the statutory campaign silence period, which requires all partisan broadcasts, jingles and announcements to stop 24 hours before polling day.

The Commission said monitoring of political broadcasts would be intensified to cover advertisements, news, debates, phone-in programmes, interviews, sponsored programmes and live broadcasts. Attention will focus on airtime allocation, balance, hate speech, misinformation and compliance with the silence rule.

The NBC equally urged online publishers, bloggers and social media commentators to be responsible, saying the credibility of the electoral process depends on the information environment.

“Our objective is not to restrict legitimate political expression or robust debate but to ensure that Nigeria’s information environment remains conducive to peaceful democratic participation,” the Commission said.

It urged all stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC guidelines.

According to INEC’s timetable, Presidential and National Assembly campaigns started August 19, 2026, while Governorship and State Assembly campaigns begin September 9, 2026.

The NBC called on media practitioners to see the election period as a public responsibility, not just a commercial opportunity.

“Responsible journalism, credible information and fair political discourse will be essential to protecting national cohesion and ensuring that Nigerians are able to make informed choices at the polls,” it said.