2027 polls: NBC, INEC join forces against unethical broadcasting

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The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are set to introduce joint broadcast monitoring measures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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The initiative would tackle unethical broadcast practices and promote responsible electoral coverage nationwide.

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The NBC Director-General, Charles Ebuebu, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

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Ebuebu said the commission would collaborate with INEC to improve election monitoring through advanced technology.

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He said agencies could no longer operate separately, especially with the growth of digital and online platforms.

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“We have written to INEC, and we are going to have a joint monitoring outlook over the elections.

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“Gone are the days where agencies work in silos. When we coordinate, we’re able to monitor more effectively,” he said.

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Ebuebu explained that joint monitoring would enable NBC and INEC to address violations collectively rather than independently.

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He added that NBC was engaging with other stakeholders, including digital platform regulators, to strengthen election monitoring.

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“We are calling in other stakeholders to reinforce the election monitoring.

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“We are signing agreements with the Nigerian Communications Commission and the National Information Technology Development Agency, before the elections,” he said.

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Ebuebu said the commission was upgrading its facilities with artificial intelligence tools to track the expanding broadcast environment.

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“With online platforms, there are thousands of them.

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“You need more than staff; you need AI monitoring facilities,” he said.

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He noted that NBC had improved its monitoring system and could currently track almost 50 channels from its Abuja facility.

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Ebuebu said the commission would set up more monitoring systems across the country in line with new technology trends in broadcasting.

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The NBC director-general also announced a sensitisation workshop in Ibadan for broadcasters, INEC officials, security agencies and other stakeholders.

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He said the workshop is crucial because discussions around elections are becoming heated, even on television.

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Ebuebu said some broadcasters forget professional guidelines during election periods, requiring continuous reminders about the broadcast code.

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“We have had to write several of them because they simply forget what the code says,” he said.

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He assured that the commission would continue strengthening compliance measures ahead of the 2027 elections.

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