The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Akeem Abas, has urged journalists to move beyond reporting political events and focus on issues affecting citizens as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Abas made the call during an interface with journalists on the electoral process organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The two-day engagement was organised under Component 4 of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria III (EU-SDGN III) project to strengthen professional journalism and democratic accountability ahead of the elections.
The NUJ chairman stressed that journalists should not limit their coverage to political rallies, party defections and campaign promises but should critically examine candidates’ manifestos, verify their claims and monitor their performance against promises made to voters.
He identified security, education, healthcare, unemployment and the economy as key areas that deserve greater attention in political reporting, noting that citizens need reliable information to make informed electoral decisions.
Accuracy and Accountability in Election Reporting
Abas emphasised the importance of fact-checking and verification in addressing misinformation, disinformation and fake news, warning that the pressure to publish quickly should never undermine accuracy.
He also called on media practitioners to avoid sensationalism and ensure that political interests do not influence their professional judgment.
According to him, journalists must adopt conflict-sensitive reporting practices and use responsible language that encourages peaceful political participation rather than heightening tensions.
He maintained that the media has a responsibility to hold all political actors accountable, irrespective of their political affiliations, while protecting the credibility of the profession through strict adherence to ethical standards.
NUJ Reaffirms Commitment to Professional Development
Speaking on the achievements of his administration, Abas said the Oyo State NUJ Council had continued to promote professionalism, ethical journalism and the welfare of media practitioners.
He highlighted efforts to strengthen journalists’ capacity in digital journalism and artificial intelligence, encourage fact-checking, promote editorial independence and improve cooperation among media organisations.
The chairman noted that journalists who are properly trained, ethically grounded and adequately supported are better positioned to serve the public interest.
He also commended the IPC for its continued contributions to press freedom, media development and democratic accountability, expressing optimism about plans to establish a fact-checking platform to support credible reporting.
Journalists Urged to Put Citizens First
Abas encouraged participating journalists to engage directly with citizens, identify their concerns and ensure their voices receive adequate attention in electoral coverage.
He further advocated the use of accountability scorecards to assess political promises and monitor government performance, stressing that election reporting should extend beyond campaign activities to the actual impact of governance on the people.
He said stronger collaboration among the IPC, NUJ, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and other media organisations would help promote transparency and responsive governance.
As part of activities marking the Oyo NUJ Council’s 60th anniversary, Abas announced plans to honour IPC Executive Director Lanre Arogundade at the celebration’s grand finale scheduled for November 7, 2026, in Ibadan.
The anniversary is themed, “Oyo NUJ @ 60: Celebrating the Past, Defending the Present, and Shaping the Future.”
He urged journalists to approach the 2027 electoral process with courage, fairness, accuracy and professionalism, noting that credible journalism remains essential to protecting democracy and holding public officials accountable.
