2027: Professor urges journalists to probe campaign promises, prioritise citizens’ needs

The Director of UNIZIK FM at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (NAU), Ifeoma Dunu, has urged Nigerian journalists to shift focus from routine coverage of political campaigns and embrace accountability journalism ahead of the 2027 general elections.

NAU is a federal university in Anambra State, popularly known as UNIZIK, and UNIZIK FM is the university’s radio station, mainly for journalism students.

Mrs Dunu, a professor, made the call on Thursday while presenting a paper at a two-day media workshop in Enugu.

The workshop was organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) and supported by the European Union.

The professor challenged media practitioners to make public accountability, citizens’ welfare and rigorous fact-checking central to their election coverage rather than focusing on politicians and their statements.

She stressed that the forthcoming 2027 general elections placed an important responsibility on the media to strengthen democratic participation, promote accountability and safeguard citizens’ access to credible electoral information.

Mrs Dunu warned journalists against focusing largely on political parties, defections, rallies, endorsements, and contests among candidates.

“Effective election journalism must move beyond reporting what politicians say to investigating what they do, verifying what they claim, and establishing how their decisions affect citizens’ lives,” she said.

She contended that journalists must rigorously compare political promises against available evidence, budgets, and implementation rather than focusing on campaign rhetoric.

“The media remains agenda-setters. Therefore, there’s a need to focus on the priority concerns of the people rather than the promises of politicians at campaign rallies.

“So, what people identified as their needs should matter to journalists more than what politicians are promising them,” she added.

In his presentation, a fact-checker with the IPC, Olusola Oludiran, took the journalists on fact-checking and the utilisation of digital tools in journalism.

Mr Oludiran stressed the importance of verification and responsible journalism, especially in the face of the growing challenge of misinformation, manipulated information and artificial intelligence-generated content.

Earlier, in his address, Lanre Arogundade, executive director of IPC, said the media has a responsibility to ensure that citizens’ voices are heard in the democratic process in addition to scrutinising political promises and holding public officials accountable.

“However, the effectiveness of this responsibility depends significantly on the quality of electoral reporting.

“An election period characterised by sensationalism, unverified claims, inflammatory rhetoric, and the unchecked spread of misinformation and disinformation can undermine public confidence, deepen social divisions, and weaken democratic institutions,” Mr Arogundade said.

Continuing, the executive director said: “Conversely, a media environment that prioritises accuracy, fairness, verification, conflict-sensitive reporting, and accountability can strengthen public trust and contribute to peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections.”

He also warned that while digital platforms have expanded information sharing and public participation, they have accelerated the spread of misinformation, manipulated content, hate speech and divisive narratives.

“The media must, therefore, strengthen its verification skills, exercise caution before publishing politically sensitive information, and resist the pressure to prioritise speed over accuracy.

“In this regard, fact-checking and verification should not be treated as optional additions to journalism. They must be integral to responsible electoral reporting,” he stated.