2027: Media, CSOs Seek Stronger Protection For Journalists, Credible Information

By Adebola Muili

Journalists, civil society organisations and other election stakeholders have called for stronger protection of journalists, improved access to credible information and greater collaboration among stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The stakeholders made the call at a Media and CSO Roundtable on Election, Press and Information Integrity organised by Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) Canada in partnership with the Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria (HRJN) and the International Press Centre (IPC) in Lagos on September 29, 2026.

The engagement, held under the theme, “Mitigating the Impact of SLAPP Laws on Information Ecosystems and Building Newsroom Resilience,” focused on challenges confronting Nigeria’s information ecosystem, including misinformation and disinformation, legal pressures on journalists, electoral violence, voter participation, digital rights, data protection and access to information.

Speaking at the event, Executive Director of the IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade, stressed the need to protect human rights and strengthen the media’s capacity to hold public institutions accountable.

Arogundade, while recalling the restrictions and pressures experienced by journalists during the military era, said the protection of journalists and citizens’ rights remained important under the current democratic system.

“The more we fight for human rights, the more we fight for ourselves,” he said.

Representatives of JHR Canada, including Mr Michael Cooke and Mr Murdoch Davis of Davis Cooke Media, also emphasised the link between journalism, human rights and democratic participation, calling for continued capacity building in digital journalism, investigative reporting and journalist safety.

The roundtable further called for stronger fact-checking capacity within newsrooms and closer collaboration between media organisations and civil society groups to counter misinformation and disinformation ahead of the elections.

Representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs Esther Emeh of the Voter Education and Publicity Department in Lagos urged citizens to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate actively in the electoral process.

Emeh also urged journalists to verify information before publication, particularly claims originating from social media, while participants called on INEC to improve its communication with the public to reduce information gaps that could encourage the spread of false information.

Participants also expressed concerns over vote buying, early campaigning, voter apathy and challenges associated with accessing voter-related services, urging INEC, security agencies, civil society organisations and the media to work more closely to improve confidence in the electoral process.

On journalist safety and legal awareness, the stakeholders urged media organisations to ensure that reporters covering the elections understand the laws governing electoral reporting, access to information and their professional responsibilities.

They referenced the Electoral Act 2022 and stressed the need to protect journalists from intimidation and other pressures that could undermine public-interest reporting.

The meeting also raised concerns about the protection of citizens’ personal information as electoral processes become increasingly digital.

Representatives of the Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative and Paradigm Initiative called for stronger safeguards for sensitive voter information, including data associated with the National Identification Number and PVC registration, to protect citizens’ privacy and strengthen confidence in digital electoral systems.

The participants further called for mechanisms that would enable citizens to safely report electoral incidents, including those occurring around polling units and collation centres, with supporting photographs and videos subjected to independent verification before publication.

The organisers said building a resilient information ecosystem ahead of the 2027 elections would require sustained investment in fact-checking, digital security, legal awareness, journalist safety and professional standards.

In his closing remarks, Mr Fidelis Mbah urged journalists to strengthen their fact-checking practices and guard against misinformation and disinformation.

Mbah, who moderated the engagement, also called for stronger collaboration between media professionals and civil society organisations in promoting responsible journalism and protecting the public interest.

The organisers said the roundtable formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacity of the media and civil society to contribute to credible, inclusive and accountable democratic processes ahead of the 2027 elections.