By Esther Olaifa
Journalists, civil society organisations and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have called for stronger collaboration to improve access to reliable information, protect press freedom and boost public participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The call was made at a roundtable organised by the Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria (HRJN) in partnership with the International Press Centre (IPC) and Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), Canada. The meeting took place on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, in Lagos.
Participants discussed the state of press freedom, election-related information, voter participation, vote buying, misinformation and journalists’ safety. They stressed the need for closer working relationships among media organisations, civil society groups, electoral institutions and the police ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria.
Murdoch Davis of Journalists for Human Rights, Canada, said the organisation works in about 30 countries to strengthen journalism that promotes human-rights awareness and public accountability. He noted that JHR had only recently begun building relationships in Nigeria and was keen to support training and mentorship for journalists through partnerships with local media.
Davis added that, “the organisation prefers collaboration over imposing external approaches and intends to learn from journalists and organisations already active in the country”. He revealed that JHR had engaged several Nigerian media houses, including a recent visit to The PUNCH, before the Lagos roundtable.
Mr Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre, said protecting journalists must remain part of the broader struggle for citizens’ rights, because restrictions on the media also limit the public’s access to information.
Mrs Esther Emeh, Head of Voter Education and Publicity at INEC, announced that the commission had released its timetable for the 2027 elections. The dates were later revised following changes to Nigeria’s electoral legal framework.
Emeh explained the procedures available to voters whose permanent voter cards are damaged or lost, as well as those who need to transfer their voting location. She cautioned citizens against fresh registration if they already have records, noting that the biometric system is designed to detect duplicates.
She also warned the public to “be wary of false information about voter registration, PVC replacement and other electoral processes that may circulate with official-looking materials and the INEC logo”. Citizens were advised to verify all electoral information through INEC’s official channels.
Shakirudeen Bankole, Communications Officer of HRJN, emphasised that information integrity requires the media to publish only accurate, balanced and thoroughly verified content. He described fact-checking as central to responsible journalism, especially at a time when information spreads rapidly across traditional and digital platforms.
Bankole called for stronger partnerships between civil society organisations and newsrooms so that resources can be directed towards credible media outlets and in-house fact-checkers working on election-related information.
Mr Michael Ogunshola, Yiaga Africa Lagos Focal Person, said journalists and civil society groups should help sustain public conversations on elections, civic responsibility and participation beyond short election campaigns. He urged that voter education become a continuous process that prepares citizens well before voting periods begin.
Mr Dayo Emmanuel of National Wire observed that many young Nigerians show greater interest in sports, entertainment and social media than in political and civic matters. He suggested that journalists find better ways to connect civic issues to topics that already engage young audiences.
Emmanuel proposed that INEC engage the Federal Government and the National Youth Service Corps to encourage voter registration among young people. “Mandating voter-card information as part of NYSC registration or clearance could potentially reach thousands of young people passing through the national service system,” he said.
Participants urged journalists to verify information rigorously before publication, particularly as artificial intelligence and other digital tools make it easier to produce misleading materials that appear authentic. They also encouraged media professionals to uphold high ethical standards when reporting on elections, human rights and other sensitive public-interest issues.
The roundtable drew participants from BONews Service, The Writer Magazine, Gender Feminist Initiative, TV360 Nigeria, National Wire, The Companion Newspaper, JustNews, The Voice Nigeria, DNN Media, Yiaga Africa, The Nation, Media Rights Agenda, Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative, ENR Review, Ultimate Communications and other organisations.
