Emphasising the critical role of the media in safeguarding democracy, he described the nation’s airwaves as the “primary infrastructure of our democracy,” urging broadcasters to act responsibly in the lead-up to the polls.
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Amupitan speaks on most dangerous weapon against 2027
According to him, the nature of electoral threats has evolved significantly, with digital platforms now playing a central role.
“In the 2027 General Election, the most dangerous weapon will not be a ballot-snatcher’s gun, but a smartphone-user’s lies amplified by an uncritical broadcast station,” he said.
The INEC chairman pointed to provisions in the Electoral Act 2026 designed to curb such risks, including requirements for equal airtime for all political parties and penalties for non-compliance.
“The Act mandates fairness and balance. You must provide a level playing field,” he stated.
He explained that media organisations that fail to comply could face fines of up to N5 million, while responsible officers risk possible imprisonment.
Amupitan also highlighted regulations governing political messaging, including a mandatory 24-hour “media blackout” before election day to limit last-minute voter manipulation. He added that the law criminalises hate speech and inflammatory content, warning against language capable of provoking religious, ethnic, or sectional tensions.
Despite these measures, he acknowledged ongoing challenges such as weak enforcement of regulations, the commercialisation of airtime, and the disproportionate media advantage enjoyed by incumbent political actors.
“Political actors with greater financial resources dominate broadcast space,” he noted, adding that this trend undermines equal access and fairness in the electoral process.
To address these concerns, Amupitan called for stronger collaboration between INEC, BON, security agencies, and the judiciary. He also urged media organisations to uphold higher editorial standards and prioritise accuracy over profit.
“Fact-check in real-time, mobilise voters’ turnout and choose professionalism over profit,” he said.
He concluded by stressing that modern elections are no longer fought solely at polling units, but also in the information space, where public perception can be shaped long before votes are cast.
Amupitan spoke hours after the opposition led a massive protest at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso; Peter Obi, Labour Party Presidential Candidate in 2023 and other leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) marched against INEC under Amupitan, on Wednesday.
The opposition leaders accused the INEC Chairman of working with the ruling party to scuttle ADC chances in 2027.
Amupitan has since denied the allegations.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE Television last week, he had said, ““Let me state very clearly that I’m not a part of anyone’s plan to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.”
On allegations that the commission did not handle the ADC leadership dispute well, the INEC chairman stressed that the commission acted strictly in line with judicial directives.
“If this judgment didn’t come, would I decide on my own? Even on social media, if you look at people who talk, they speak from their own interests,” Amupitan stated.
“The question is whether they lack confidence in what INEC has done. INEC didn’t make the decision that is causing these grievances.”
President Bola Tinubu administration has approved the comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Under the new arrangement, the military will no longer head the scheme.
Instead, the agency will be led by a civilian in its operational leadership, while the military will continue to handle security for corps members across the country.
The development was announced on Monday by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Tinubu also directed the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and the Minister of Youth, Ayodele Olawande, to amend the NYSC Act and its regulations to reflect all the approved reform measures, enabling immediate implementation of the new framework.
Some of the landmark reforms include:
A technology-driven call-up process.
Risk-sensitive deployment to better protect corps members.
A redesigned six-week orientation programme with a stronger focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and specialised career streams.
Skills-based primary assignments aligned with academic background and career pathways.
Modern governance with civilian operational leadership while the military continues to provide security support.
Improved camp standards through a national grading and certification system.
A new graduation ceremony to replace the Passing Out Parade, and a redesigned NYSC uniform that reflects professionalism and national pride.
The Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy (CFRPA) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Kano seeking the disqualification of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the 2027 presidential election over allegations of certificate forgery.
According to court documents seen by Daily Trust, the plaintiff alleged that Tinubu presented forged academic certificates from Chicago State University and a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2023 elections.
The suit, marked FHC/K/CS/312/2026, lists Tinubu, INEC, and Chicago State University as defendants.
The plaintiff contended that Tinubu never attended Government College Lagos as claimed, noting that the school was established in 1974, four years after Tinubu allegedly graduated.
The CSO further argued that Tinubu does not possess a valid secondary school certificate, which is the minimum constitutional requirement to contest for the presidency.
It claimed that INEC had failed to act on its petition dated June 19, 2026, demanding clarification on Tinubu’s eligibility.
In its statement of claims, the group referenced a 2023 U.S. court ruling in Re: Application of Atiku Abubakar (No. 23 CV 05099), which compelled Chicago State University to release Tinubu’s academic records.
The plaintiff insisted those records revealed false entries and inconsistencies, including a forged University of Cambridge General Certificate of Education.
The prayers asked by the plaintiff included declaration of forgery against Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate, issuance of an order directing INEC to disqualify him from the 2027 presidential election, directing CSU to strike Tinubu’s name from its records and perpetual injunction restraining INEC from uploading Tinubu’s name as a candidate.
The plaintiff also submitted affidavits of non-multiplicity of action, witness statements, and letters to the NYSC and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, demanding disclaimers on the alleged fake NYSC certificate.
Ojukwu Transport Limited, OTL, has raised concerns over what it described as the repeated absence of court records in its ongoing property dispute with Bianca Ojukwu and her sons, even as it filed a motion for stay of execution pending the determination of its appeal.
Proceedings before Justice A.M. Lawal of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, last Monday were stalled for the second time in six weeks due to the unavailability of the case file.
The matter was adjourned after the file was reportedly not returned to court.
A similar situation occurred on May 8, 2026, when the case could not proceed because the file was unavailable.
OTL alleged that the file had been taken from the Ikeja Judicial Division to Lagos more than two months ago for the execution of a warrant and had not been returned.
The claimants’ legal representatives were absent from court on both occasions.
Describing the development as troubling, OTL said the repeated absence of the file had effectively stalled proceedings and raised questions about accountability in the handling of court records.
Amid the delays, the company disclosed that it had filed and served a motion for stay of execution at the Court of Appeal, seeking to halt enforcement of the judgment pending the determination of its appeal against the 2022 decision in Suit No. LD/1539/2012.
OTL maintained that the application became necessary because steps were being taken to enforce the judgment despite its pending appeal.
The company also contended that the properties in dispute had previously been the subject of a warrant of execution arising from a separate judgment delivered in 2018 by Justice Adedayo Oyebanji in Suit No. LD/794/2011.
The case was subsequently adjourned to October 8, 2026.
Present in court on both adjourned dates on behalf of Ojukwu Transport Limited was one of its directors, Dr. P. Ike Ojukwu.
Counsel to OTL are Ifeanyi Okumah Esq and Chief O. Ugolo, SAN, while Bianca Ojukwu and her sons are represented by Nick Omeye Esq and Co.
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