The International Press Centre (IPC) has urged journalists to prioritise fact-checking, investigative reporting and professional ethics in their coverage of political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The centre warned that the spread of misinformation could undermine voters’ ability to make informed decisions, calling on media practitioners to verify political claims and ensure accuracy before publishing or broadcasting reports.
The call was made at a one-day media interface organised by the IPC for journalists, editors and publishers in Ondo State as part of efforts to strengthen democratic accountability and promote credible election reporting.
The programme was held under Component Four, Support to Media, of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria programme.
Representing the IPC Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade, the organisation’s Programme Officer, Stella Nwofia, said journalists had a responsibility to scrutinise statements by political actors, consult credible sources and present balanced reports to the public.
She noted that election periods often heightened the risk of misinformation, making fact-checking and adherence to professional standards particularly important.
Nwofia also urged media practitioners to deploy digital technologies responsibly in gathering, verifying and disseminating information, stressing that accuracy and accountability must remain central to their work.
The Ondo State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Leke Adegbite, commended the IPC for its efforts to strengthen journalists’ capacity and improve professional standards.
Adegbite charged journalists to resist political pressure and avoid partisan reporting, urging them to uphold fairness, balance and the public interest in their coverage of political parties and candidates.
The interface featured discussions on the use of technology in journalism, fact-checking techniques and newsroom ethics, with participants examining the challenges posed by misinformation in the digital age.
Journalists also participated in practical exercises designed to improve their ability to verify claims, identify false information and assess the credibility of sources before publication.
The organisers said the initiative was aimed at equipping media practitioners with the skills needed to deliver accurate, balanced and credible reports during the 2027 election cycle.
They urged participants to apply the knowledge acquired in their respective newsrooms, noting that responsible journalism was essential to sustaining public trust, strengthening democratic accountability and promoting credible elections.
