The International Press Centre (IPC) has called on online publishers and editors to strengthen fact-checking, promote accountability journalism and prioritise citizens’ concerns as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
The appeal was made during a two-day engagement with journalists, editors and publishers organised by the IPC in Ibadan, Oyo State, from October 12 to 13, 2026.
The programme, held at Golden Tulip Hotel, Jericho, was organised under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria III (EU-SDGN III) programme to improve the quality of electoral reporting and strengthen the media’s contribution to democratic governance.
IPC Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade, represented by the centre’s Programme Officer, Melody Akinjiyan, said the approaching election cycle required journalists to reassess their reporting methods and provide accurate, balanced, inclusive and public-interest information.
He stressed that electoral coverage should extend beyond political rallies, defections, campaign activities and election results to examine citizens’ expectations, concerns and demands from those seeking public office.
According to him, the media must create room for informed public debate, scrutinise political promises and ensure that elected officials are held accountable for their decisions and performance.
Publishers Urged to Focus on Issues Affecting Citizens
Former Chief Press Secretary to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Dr Taiwo Adisa, also called for a shift from personality-centred and event-driven journalism to issue-based reporting.
Speaking on democratic and accountability reporting ahead of the 2027 elections, Adisa urged journalists to examine political party manifestos, evaluate campaign commitments and monitor the performance of public officials against promises made to citizens.
He emphasised the need to give greater attention to the concerns of women, young people and vulnerable groups whose experiences may receive limited coverage in political discourse.
Adisa noted that journalists serve important roles in monitoring governance, determining the information available to the public and ensuring that political actors answer questions about their policies and decisions.
He urged publishers and editors to make citizens’ priorities central to their editorial decisions rather than allowing political personalities and activities to dominate election coverage.
IPC Highlights Importance of Fact-Checking
A fact-checker with Nigeria Democratic Report, Olusola Oludiran, warned that misinformation, disinformation and mal-information could undermine public trust, distort electoral choices and threaten peaceful democratic participation.
During a session on integrating fact-checking into democratic and accountability reporting, Oludiran advised journalists to verify information before publication, authenticate photographs and videos, cross-check claims against reliable data and consult relevant experts and official documents.
He introduced participants to digital verification resources, including Google Fact Check Explorer, InVID and TinEye, which can help journalists investigate online claims and identify potentially manipulated or recycled images and videos.
Oludiran also encouraged media organisations to establish internal fact-checking desks and incorporate verification into their everyday editorial processes, particularly as political activities and online misinformation increase ahead of elections.
He explained that a single unverified report could damage reputations, mislead voters and weaken confidence in the media, making accuracy a priority over the pressure to publish quickly.
Over 40 Media Stakeholders Participate
The engagement brought together more than 40 editors, publishers and NUJ leaders from Oyo State and other parts of the South-West to examine the media’s responsibilities in strengthening democracy and improving electoral reporting.
Participants discussed ways to identify citizens’ priority concerns, improve verification practices and promote systematic monitoring of campaign promises and government performance.
The programme also emphasised inclusive and conflict-sensitive reporting to ensure that election coverage informs the public without inflaming tensions or excluding underrepresented communities.
Participants commended the IPC and the European Union for supporting the initiative and pledged to uphold professional standards and accountability journalism in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.
The engagement reinforced the importance of credible, evidence-based reporting in helping Nigerians make informed electoral decisions and ensuring that political leaders remain answerable to the people.
