PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has told editors to maintain balance in the media space ahead of the 2027 general election.
The President, who spoke through Tunde Rahman, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Special Duties, said the media has a crucial role to play in protecting democracy, particularly at a time when fake news, propaganda and deepfakes are increasingly prevalent.
News Point Nigeria reports that Rahman delivered the President’s message on Friday in Enugu at the 22nd Conference of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), where he spoke on the theme, “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive.”
Rahman said Nigeria was at a critical period with the proliferation of fake news, stressing that the media could tackle the challenge through credibility and professional journalism.
“We are preparing for a most consequential election next January and February. So, we must ensure a balance of media space,” he said.
“Now, democracy lives in three places: The Ballot, the barracks, and the newsroom. The soldiers have returned to the barracks. What is left is the ballot and the newsroom. If either fails, democracy fails.”
He described the ballot as the mechanism that gives citizens equal voting power regardless of their social or economic status.
“The ballot is the only thing that makes a market woman equal to a billionaire. For four hours on election day, they have the same power,” Rahman said.
“Our job, as political actors and as government, is to protect that power to ensure that votes count, that BVAS works, and that INEC remains independent.”
While emphasising the role of editors in safeguarding democracy, the presidential aide warned that elections could produce the wrong outcome when voters are not adequately informed.
“You are not just reporting politics; you are keeping democracy alive,” he said.
“When you verify a fact, you keep democracy alive. When you give opposition and government equal space to be interrogated, you keep democracy alive.”
Rahman said the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfakes had made the work of journalists more difficult.
“Anyone can sit on WhatsApp and announce a fake election result. Only you can debunk it with credibility,” he said.
He also said some politicians were now preparing to contest elections largely on social media rather than by campaigning directly to the people, stressing that elections required serious preparation.
“We now have politicians who only prepare to contest elections on social media, not by campaigning to the people. Elections call for serious preparation.
“You cannot want to win a national election when you cannot even produce candidates across the country.”
Ahead of the 2027 election, Rahman said the media should not be aligned with any political party.
“The media should not be pro-APC or pro-LP or pro-PDP. It should be pro-Nigeria, pro-Ballot, pro-People,” he said.
He urged journalists and editors to uphold facts and professionalism while resisting the pressure for sensationalism and clicks.
“Let us punish lies with facts. Let us punish propaganda with professionalism. Let us not let clicks kill credibility.
“If the ballot is free and the media is fair, democracy will not just survive in Nigeria, it will thrive.”
Rahman noted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had stabilised the economy, adding that the next phase should focus on delivering more relief to Nigerians.
“That is why we say: ‘Let us allow President Tinubu to complete the work by electing him for another four years’. The reforms are done. Prosperity is next,” he said.