2027: IPC Urges Online Publishers To Prioritise Accountability Reporting, Fact-Checking

The International Press Centre (IPC) has urged online publishers and editors to prioritise accountability reporting, scrutinise political promises and verify claims ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The call was made at an interface with online editors and publishers in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday, the second day of a two-day engagement organised under Component 4 (Support to Media) of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II) programme.

The Executive Director of IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade, in remarks said journalists needed to move beyond event-driven coverage of political rallies, campaigns and defections to issue-based reporting that provides citizens with credible information on governance.

Arogundade, who was represented by the programme officer, Melody Akinjiyan, urged newsrooms to give sustained attention to concerns about the economy, education, healthcare, security, employment and infrastructure.

He also warned that misinformation, manipulated content and divisive narratives could undermine public confidence and democratic institutions stressing the need for fact-checking, accuracy, fairness and conflict-sensitive reporting, while urging journalists to reflect the concerns of women, young people, persons with disabilities and other underrepresented groups.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Comrade Akeem Abas, in his address, called on journalists to scrutinise candidates’ manifestoes, verify political claims and measure campaign promises against government performance.

Abas, who was represented by the council’s Vice-Chairman, Comrade Atilola, urged journalists to uphold professional ethics and avoid allowing political interests to influence their judgment, stressing that speed must not take precedence over accuracy and sensationalism must not replace substance.

He also reaffirmed the council’s commitment to professional development, digital journalism, responsible use of artificial intelligence and journalists’ welfare.

The NUJ chairman also announced plans to honour Arogundade at the grand finale of the council’s 60th anniversary celebration on November 7, 2026, in Ibadan, in recognition of his contributions to press freedom and professional journalism.

In a presentation titled, “2027 General Election in the Context of Democratic and Accountability Reporting: Scanning the Electoral Environment and Reporting Citizens’ Priority Concerns,” the General Editor of Tribune Newspapers, Dr Taiwo Adisa, urged journalists to focus electoral reporting on issues affecting citizens rather than the personalities and activities of political actors.

Adisa identified education, agriculture, rural roads and security as key concerns in Oyo State, noting that residents expected governments to improve living conditions.

He cited the cancellation of the N3,000 education levy imposed under former Governor Abiola Ajimobi as one of the policies that helped Governor Seyi Makinde gain public support in 2019, adding that access to agricultural inputs and improved rural roads should also feature in assessments of political promises.

On security, Adisa highlighted kidnapping, banditry and farmer-herder conflicts as challenges facing the state. He also pointed to concerns surrounding local government autonomy, particularly the payment of salaries and pensions for primary school teachers, healthcare workers, local government employees and pensioners.

Adisa described Oyo as a politically active state where media coverage and public perception could influence the standing of political actors. He pointed to the state’s numerous radio stations, online television platforms, podcasts, social media users and online newspapers, alongside its competitive political environment, as factors that make electoral reporting particularly significant ahead of 2027.

He noted the presence of the APC, PDP and APM in the state’s political landscape and urged journalists to track campaign promises and question public officials on their implementation, enabling citizens to assess government performance.

Also speaking, Nigeria Democratic Report (NDR) fact-checker, Mr Olusola Oludiran, sensitised participants on fact-checking tools and techniques during a session titled, “Integrating Fact-Checking for Democratic and Accountability Reporting.”

Oludiran explained that democratic reporting provides citizens with accurate and diverse information to understand public affairs and participate in democratic processes, while accountability reporting scrutinises the decisions, promises and performance of individuals and institutions exercising public power.

He described fact-checking as an essential part of journalism that helps correct public misconceptions, counter misinformation and disinformation, improve media literacy and strengthen public trust.

He noted that verification can require specialised technical skills, particularly when examining images, videos and other digital content, and urged newsrooms to make it an integral part of their editorial processes.

The two-day interface brought together media practitioners and stakeholders to examine the media’s role in democratic accountability and electoral reporting ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The sessions on Monday involved broadcast and print media practitioners, while Tuesday’s engagement focused on online editors and publishers.