…urge media to shun inflammatory reports

As the 2027 general elections approach, the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) and communication scholars have charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure neutrality and strengthen its digital systems, while urging journalists to shun inflammatory reports and promote peace, accuracy and social responsibility.

The call was made in Abuja by the National President of ACSPN, Prof. Rotimi Williams Olatunji; public relations expert, Dr. Nkechi Ali-Balogun; a Mass Communication scholar and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State, Prof. Uwaoma Uche; and Associate Professor, Department of Broadcasting, University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Titilayo Remilekun Osuagwu.

They spoke at the 13th Annual International Conference of ACSPN, held at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Abuja, with the theme, “Media, Technology and Elections in Africa: Navigating Digital Disruption and the New Dynamics of Electoral Communication.”

The conference brought together communication scholars, media practitioners, policymakers, electoral authorities and other stakeholders to examine the changing digital environment and its implications for elections and democratic governance.

Olatunji urged INEC to ensure that its digital platforms, applications and other technological equipment were fully operational ahead of the 2027 elections to prevent glitches that could undermine the electoral process.

He also called on the commission to collaborate with telecommunications companies to guarantee internet accessibility, particularly in rural communities.

“As the 2027 elections approach, INEC must ensure that its digital platforms and applications are in top gear. Its equipment must work well to avoid glitches,” Olatunji said.

“The electoral body needs to collaborate with telecoms to ensure that rural internet accessibility is guaranteed. Its social media platforms must be ready 24/7 to debunk fake news.”

He also urged media organisations to establish or strengthen fact-checking rooms ahead of the elections, stressing the need for journalists to be sensitive in their reports and avoid stories capable of aggravating existing social fault lines.

Olatunji also called for greater attention to the safety of journalists, urging media owners to provide special insurance coverage for practitioners who would be deployed to volatile areas during the elections.

Also speaking, Prof. Uche urged INEC to maintain strict neutrality as the electoral umpire, saying the commission must ensure that all stakeholders were treated fairly.

“INEC as an umpire must maintain neutrality at all cost,” Uche said.

He said the recent Osun State governorship election showed that Nigerians did not necessarily hate INEC but wanted to be given a voice in the electoral process.

The professor also charged journalists to play a critical role in preventing electoral violence by embracing peace journalism and avoiding reports capable of escalating tensions.

“The journalists have the crucial role to de-escalate anything that can escalate electoral violence. They must embrace peace journalism and ensure that social cohesion and social equilibrium are intact,” he said.

On her part, Dr. Osuagwu also urged journalists and communication professionals to be fair, responsible and cautious in their coverage of the 2027 elections.

She stressed the importance of journalists’ safety, noting that media practitioners were often among the victims whenever electoral violence occurred.

Osuagwu also urged journalists in both print and electronic media to verify information before publication or broadcast, noting that the availability of various verification tools could help practitioners authenticate information before disseminating it.

She also charged INEC to continue building and strengthening Nigerians’ trust in the electoral process.

According to her, although public confidence in electoral institutions and, at times, the judiciary had suffered setbacks, recent developments had created hope that Nigerians could regain confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections.

On her part, Dr. Ali-Balogun urged journalists to remain neutral, objective and socially responsible in their coverage of the 2027 general elections.

She cautioned journalists against inflammatory reports capable of deepening tensions, dividing citizens and creating confusion in society.

Ali-Balogun stressed the need for journalists to uphold the ethics of their profession by ensuring that their reports reflected the realities of events without showing preference for any political candidate or party.

According to her, journalists should move away from inflammatory communication and embrace communication capable of placating and bringing people together, particularly during the election period.

“It is time that journalists started helping us to comply with one of the core ethics and goals of journalism, which is social responsibility.

“It is the responsibility of journalists to help frame the news in such a way that sanitises whatever is happening in society, especially during elections.

“We should move away from inflammatory communication and use communication that will placate and bring people together instead of dividing and creating confusion in society,” she said.

Ali-Balogun also urged journalists to maintain neutrality irrespective of their personal political preferences, noting that their reports should not reveal their sympathies for particular candidates.

“Your report must reflect exactly what is happening in society without inflaming, without inciting and without leaning towards any political candidate,” she said.