Journalists have been urged to prioritise accuracy, fairness and public interest in their coverage of the 2027 general elections, particularly in politically active states such as Kano.
The Secretary to the Kano State Government, Umar Faruk-Ibrahim, gave the advice at the 2026 retreat of the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Kaduna.
He said Kano’s diverse political interests and intense competition could generate strong emotions, competing narratives and misinformation, making responsible journalism essential to protecting peace and democratic participation.
Faruk-Ibrahim urged journalists to avoid reports capable of inflaming ethnic, religious, regional or political divisions. He also cautioned against amplifying inflammatory statements or using sensational headlines that distort the substance of stories.
The Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Murtala Adewale, said the retreat was organised to prepare journalists for the legal, security and ethical challenges that could arise during election coverage.
The discussion comes amid concerns over the spread of political misinformation. The Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition reportedly reviewed 127 claims during the 2023 elections, while the Centre for Democracy and Development has also documented the growth of online platforms spreading political and ethno-religious disinformation.
Speakers at the retreat stressed the importance of responsible reporting in helping voters access credible information while reducing the risk of misinformation contributing to electoral tension.
