EKPAN/Nigeria: As political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, has challenged online publishers in Delta State to take the lead in promoting issue-based politics by holding political office holders and election contestants accountable for their promises while aggressively combating misinformation and disinformation.
The charge was delivered on Friday during a strategic roundtable with members of the Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) at BON Hotel Hyatti, Ekpan, Delta State, under the European Union Support to Media and Democratic Governance in Nigeria Phase II (EUSDGN II) programme.
The engagement marked a shift in IPC’s election intervention strategy, moving beyond the traditional training of reporters to directly engaging media owners and publishers who determine newsroom priorities and shape public discourse.
Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said the new approach followed an independent assessment by the European Union which revealed that despite years of training journalists on ethical election reporting, inclusive journalism and fact-checking, the expected transformation in election coverage had not materialised.
According to him, newsroom owners and editors ultimately determine what gets published and therefore occupy a strategic position in promoting credible elections and democratic governance.
“The publishers decide what stories receive prominence. If they are committed to accountability journalism, the impact on our democracy will be far greater,” Arogundade said.
He urged members of the Delta Online Publishers Forum to transform their platforms into vehicles for public accountability by setting the agenda for political actors long before campaigns begin.
Rather than allowing politicians to dictate election narratives, he said the media should compel candidates to address issues affecting ordinary Nigerians, including unemployment, insecurity, education, healthcare, infrastructure, gender inclusion and economic development.
Arogundade challenged the publishers to consistently track campaign promises, scrutinise government performance and produce investigative reports that amplify the voices of women, youths, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups often excluded from political conversations.
He also called on media organisations to strengthen partnerships with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and civil society organisations to enhance voter education and encourage peaceful participation in the electoral process.
“Develop a theory of change that will transform the Delta Online Publishers Forum into an accountability forum that cannot be swayed by external influence. Counter misinformation and disinformation through professionalism, commitment and effective fact-checking,” he said.
Arogundade noted that as political campaigns intensify, online media platforms will increasingly become targets for false narratives, manipulated content and coordinated disinformation campaigns, making verification and responsible journalism more important than ever.
He further encouraged publishers to deploy emerging digital technologies that improve newsroom efficiency while reducing risks to journalists covering politically sensitive events.
In another presentation, IPC’s Nigerian Democratic Report journalist, Mr. Olusola Oludiran, warned that election-related misinformation remains one of the greatest threats to Nigeria’s democracy.
He observed that fake news, deepfake videos and manipulated social media content could suppress voter turnout, erode confidence in electoral institutions and cast doubt on election outcomes if left unchecked.
Describing fact-checking as “the first line of defence for electoral integrity,” Oludiran urged journalists to embrace rigorous verification techniques and make greater use of digital tools capable of exposing fabricated content before it spreads across the information space.
Responding, Chairman of the Delta Online Publishers Forum, Mr. Emmanuel Enebeli, commended the International Press Centre and the European Union for equipping online publishers with practical skills ahead of the next election cycle.
He assured that DOPF members would deploy their various platforms to promote responsible journalism, strengthen democratic accountability and sustain issue-based reporting throughout the electoral process.
Enebeli also disclosed that the forum was already developing a strategic public agenda that would be presented to political parties and candidates ahead of the 2027 elections, with the objective of shifting political discourse from rhetoric to measurable commitments.
Also speaking, DOPF Secretary, Mr. Shedrack Onitsha, urged members to ensure that the knowledge acquired at the workshop reflects in the quality of their reports by producing stories capable of influencing policy, strengthening democratic institutions and improving governance.
Participants described the workshop as timely, noting that it deepened their understanding of ethical election reporting, digital verification techniques and the media’s constitutional responsibility to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy.
