2027 elections

  The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, has urged journalists to scrutinise political promises, prioritise citizens’ concerns and hold public officials accountable ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Executive Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade, gave the charge during a two-day engagement with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, online editors and publishers in Ibadan, Oyo State. The programme, held from October 12 to 13 at Golden Tulip Hotel, Jericho, was organised under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria III programme. Represented by the programme officer, Melody Akinjiyan, Arogundade said journalists needed to strengthen their electoral reporting to provide credible, balanced and inclusive information that serves the public interest. He stressed that election coverage should go beyond political campaigns, rallies, candidates and results to reflect citizens’ expectations and concerns about governance. Former Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Dr Taiwo Adisa, also urged journalists to move away from personality-driven reporting towards issue-based journalism. In his presentation, Adisa said journalists should scrutinise party manifestos, track campaign promises and give greater attention to the concerns of women, youths and vulnerable groups. He described journalists as auditors and watchdogs of democracy, adding that the media had an important role in bridging the gap between citizens’ expectations and the realities of governance. Another resource person, Olusola Oludiran, warned that misinformation, disinformation and malinformation could undermine public trust and threaten credible elections. Speaking on fact-checking in democratic reporting, he urged journalists to verify sources, authenticate images and videos, cross-check claims against reliable data and consult experts before publication. “False information can trigger violence, undermine public trust, distort electoral choices and destroy reputations within minutes. The cost of one unverified story can be far greater than the time it takes to verify it,” he said. Oludiran introduced participants to verification tools, including Google Fact Check Explorer, InVID and TinEye, and encouraged newsrooms to establish fact-checking desks ahead of the elections. The engagement brought together more than 40 editors, publishers and union leaders from Oyo State and other parts of the South-West to discuss the media’s role in strengthening democratic accountability and improving electoral reporting. Participants commended the IPC and the European Union for organising the programme and pledged to uphold professional standards ahead of the 2027 general elections.