The Head, Department of Broadcasting, University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Dr. Titilayo Remilekun Osuagwu, has charged journalists and communication professionals to ensure fairness, accuracy and responsibility in their coverage of the 2027 general elections.

Osuagwu, who also expressed concern over the safety of journalists during elections, urged media practitioners to verify information before publication or broadcast, warning that the spread of misinformation could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

She spoke in Abuja at the 13th Annual International Conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), themed, “Media, Technology and Elections in Africa: Navigating Digital Disruption and the New Dynamics of Electoral Communication.”

She said the conference was particularly relevant given Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 elections, noting that issues including citizens’ participation, fake news and other electoral challenges had been extensively discussed.

“My message to journalists and communication professionals is that they should be fair and responsible in their coverage of election-related matters,” she said.

Osuagwu said journalists must balance their professional responsibility to provide credible information with the need to protect themselves, particularly in volatile electoral environments.

“I am particularly concerned about the safety of journalists because, whenever there is violence, journalists are often among the victims. They should, therefore, be cautious and prioritise their safety.

“At the same time, they must ensure fairness and uphold their social responsibility to the citizens they serve,” she said.

The don advised journalists in both print and electronic media to make effective use of available verification tools before publishing or broadcasting election-related information.

She also called on the electoral umpire to sustain efforts to rebuild Nigerians’ confidence in electoral institutions, saying public trust was essential to credible elections.

According to her, although confidence in electoral institutions and, at times, the judiciary had declined over the years, recent developments offered some hope for renewed public trust.

She commended the electoral umpire’s handling of the recent election, saying the performance had received positive assessments from many stakeholders.

She, however, urged the commission to replicate and improve on the gains recorded ahead of the 2027 general elections.