AWKA – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on journalists covering Saturday’s Anambra governorship election to strictly adhere to the Electoral Act 2022 in their reporting.
INEC’s Head of Legal Department in Anambra, Mrs Olachi Nwugo, emphasized the media’s constitutional role as society’s watchdog while cautioning against premature result declarations.
“EC8A remains the legally primary document for the declaration of results,” Nwugo stated, clarifying that IReV-uploaded images serve as verification tools rather than replacement documents.
She warned that media houses face significant legal risks under Sections 60(5) and 64 of the Electoral Act if they declare results based on unverified, non-IReV data.
The commission urged journalists to leverage the transparency of the IReV platform to counter disinformation and ensure accurate, impartial election reporting.
