2027 elections: INEC, Arogundade call for information verification, protection of journalists

Media professionals and civil society organisations have called for stronger newsroom resilience, improved access to credible information and better protection for journalists ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

The call was made at a Media and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Roundtable on Election, Press, and Information Integrity organised by Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) Canada in partnership with the Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria (HRJN) and the International Press Centre (IPC) in Lagos.

The event, held under the theme, ‘Mitigating the Impact of SLAPP Laws on Information Ecosystems and Building Newsroom Resilience,’ examined threats to Nigeria’s information ecosystem, including misinformation, disinformation, legal pressures on journalists, electoral violence, voter participation, digital rights, data protection and access to information.

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The Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Mr Lanre Arogundade, stressed the need to protect human rights and strengthen the media’s capacity to hold public institutions accountable.

Recalling the restrictions and pressures journalists faced during Nigeria’s military era, Arogundade said protecting the rights of journalists and citizens remained essential under the country’s democratic system.

According to Arogundade, “The more we fight for human rights, the more we fight for ourselves.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), meanwhile, urged eligible citizens to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate actively in the electoral process.

Representing INEC, Mrs Esther Emeh of the commission’s Voter Education and Publicity Department in Lagos also advised journalists to verify information before publication, particularly claims circulating on social media.

She warned that unverified reports could mislead voters and undermine public confidence in elections.