The Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, Dr Lanre Arogundade, has called on Nigerian journalists and media organisations to strengthen professional standards, promote democratic accountability and prioritise issue-based reporting ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Arogundade made the call during his welcome remarks at an interface with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), editors and publishers on Professional and Democratic Accountability in Journalism ahead of the 2027 general elections, organised by the International Press Centre in Enugu State.
The engagement was held under Component 4 (Support to Media) of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN III) Programme.
He described the engagement as timely and necessary, noting that the approaching election cycle presents an opportunity for media professionals to reflect on their responsibilities and strengthen their capacity to provide citizens with credible, balanced, inclusive and public-interest information.
According to him, elections go beyond political campaigns, rallies, candidates and the announcement of results, stressing that they also concern citizens’ aspirations, expectations, challenges and their right to make informed decisions about the future of the country.
The IPC Executive Director emphasised that the media occupies a strategic position in a democratic society, with responsibilities extending beyond reporting political activities to facilitating informed public discourse, scrutinising political promises, holding public officials accountable and ensuring that citizens’ voices are adequately represented.
He, however, warned that sensationalism, unverified claims, inflammatory rhetoric and the unchecked spread of misinformation and disinformation could undermine public confidence, deepen social divisions and weaken democratic institutions.
Arogundade maintained that accurate, fair, verified and conflict-sensitive reporting remained essential to building public trust and promoting peaceful, credible and inclusive elections.
He urged journalists to move beyond event-driven electoral coverage and embrace more substantive, issue-based and citizen-centred reporting that interrogates campaign promises, verifies political claims, monitors the performance of elected officials and documents the concerns of ordinary Nigerians.
He also challenged media organisations to give greater attention to critical issues affecting citizens, including the economy, education, healthcare, security, employment and infrastructure.
The IPC boss further stressed the need for inclusive electoral reporting, urging journalists to ensure that women, young people, persons with disabilities and other often-underrepresented groups receive adequate visibility in democratic discourse.
On the growing influence of digital platforms, Arogundade observed that while they have expanded opportunities for information sharing and public participation, they have also increased the speed and scale at which false information, manipulated content, hate speech and divisive narratives spread.
He therefore called on journalists to strengthen their fact-checking and verification skills, exercise caution when publishing politically sensitive information and resist the pressure to prioritise speed over accuracy.
He insisted that fact-checking and verification must remain integral to responsible electoral journalism rather than optional additions to the profession.
Arogundade also called for greater attention to the safety and professional independence of journalists, stressing that media practitioners must be allowed to discharge their legitimate responsibilities without intimidation, harassment or unlawful interference.
Encouraging participants to contribute actively to the deliberations, he urged them to share experiences from their respective media organisations, raise critical questions and develop practical ideas capable of improving electoral reporting across print, broadcast and online platforms.
He noted that the success of the engagement should not be measured solely by the quality of discussions or the number of participants but also by the stories published, claims verified, citizens’ concerns amplified, accountability questions raised and professional standards upheld in the months leading to the 2027 elections.
Arogundade expressed appreciation to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State Council, for its support in facilitating the engagement, as well as the resource persons who accepted the invitation to lead the deliberations.
He also acknowledged the European Union for providing funding support for the project under which the interface was organised.
