By Aishat Temitope
The International Press Centre has urged journalists, editors and media publishers to prioritise fact-checking, public-interest reporting and accountability journalism ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Executive Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade, made the call at a two-day engagement with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, editors and publishers in Akure, Ondo State, on Friday.
Arogundade, who was represented by the centre’s Programme Manager, Stella Nwofia, said the engagement was organised to strengthen the media’s capacity to provide credible, balanced and inclusive election coverage.
The programme was held under Component Four, Support to Media, of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Phase III programme.
He said election reporting should go beyond political campaigns, rallies and candidates’ activities to address citizens’ concerns, scrutinise campaign promises and provide voters with reliable information to make informed decisions.
Arogundade urged journalists to focus on critical issues such as the economy, education, healthcare, security, employment and infrastructure, while ensuring that women, young people, persons with disabilities and other underrepresented groups received adequate attention in electoral coverage.
He warned that sensational reports, unverified claims and the spread of misinformation and disinformation could undermine public confidence, deepen divisions and weaken democratic institutions.
The IPC director also called for stronger verification practices, caution in publishing politically sensitive information and a commitment to accuracy over speed, stressing that fact-checking must remain central to responsible election reporting.
One of the resource persons, Adegbenro Adebanjo, Director of Corporate Communications at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, urged journalists to investigate grassroots needs and reflect them in reports on political parties’ manifestos.
Another facilitator, Olusola Oludiran, addressed the integration of fact-checking into accountability journalism, while Daniel Dabo trained participants on using artificial intelligence and digital tools to improve their work.
Arogundade further stressed the need to protect journalists’ safety and professional independence, saying media practitioners must be able to perform their duties without intimidation, harassment or unlawful interference.
