Journalists, security agencies, and civic stakeholders unite ahead of November 8 polls to ensure peaceful, inclusive, and credible election coverage.
Stakeholders at the EU–SDGN II stakeholder forum
With more than 2.8 million registered voters expected to cast their ballots across 5,718 polling units in Anambra’s 21 local government areas on November 8, 2025, the demand for reliable, ethical, and inclusive election information has never been greater. Yet elections today unfold in an increasingly volatile information environment, one where misinformation, digitally engineered propaganda, and AI-generated falsehoods circulate faster than verified facts.
Across Nigeria, coordinated disinformation campaigns now deploy deepfakes, manipulated videos, fabricated statements, and hyper-segmented political messaging designed to exploit voter identities such as religion, gender, ethnicity, and political affiliation. These efforts make it easier for bad actors to polarize communities, distort public opinion, and influence electoral outcomes. This kind of information pollution threatens not only the credibility of elections but also the broader democratic fabric that supports public trust.
At the same time, the safety of journalists remains a pressing concern. Media professionals increasingly operate in environments marked by intimidation, harassment, equipment seizures, online abuse, and physical threats, risks that intensify during election periods. Press freedom faces constant pressure, and journalists must navigate political interference, ownership influence, and hostile reporting conditions while maintaining accuracy and impartiality. Without their safety and independence, the public cannot receive the factual and timely information it needs to make informed decisions.
It was within this complex landscape of rising digital threats, shrinking civic space, and heightened risks to media practitioners that the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) convened a two-day multi stakeholder forum supported by the European Union within the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU–SDGN) Programme Phase II.
The engagement was designed to strengthen ethical journalism, reinforce press freedom, enhance the safety of reporters, and foster coordinated collaboration among journalists, INEC, security agencies, civil society organizations, and other electoral stakeholders.
Ultimately, the forum was anchored in a central truth. Protecting the integrity of the November 8 governorship election begins with protecting the information ecosystem and safeguarding the journalists who stand at its frontlines.
Held at BON Hotel Smith in Awka, the forum brought together journalists from the print, broadcast, and online sectors along with representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC, the National Orientation Agency NOA, media unions, civil society groups, and development partners. Collectively, they examined critical issues affecting electoral credibility, including misinformation, journalist safety, stakeholder coordination, inclusive reporting, and the urgent need for reliable voter education.
Media Ethics, Professionalism, and Issue-Based Reporting at the Forefront
The opening day of the forum highlighted the indispensable role of the media in shaping democratic outcomes. Speaking at the event, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of IPC, said the engagement is part of Component 4: Support to Media under the EU-SDGN II programme, jointly implemented by IPC and CEMESO. He noted that the component complements EU-SDGN support to INEC, political parties, youth, women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) toward delivering credible and inclusive elections.
Arogundade stressed that elections are the bedrock of democracy, and the media plays a central role in helping citizens make informed choices. He said journalists must uphold fairness, accuracy, inclusivity, and professionalism, in line with the Electoral Act 2022, the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, and the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage.
He explained that the forum aims to strengthen issue-based reporting, ensure fairness in covering campaign promises, and equip journalists to counter misinformation, disinformation, and press freedom violations.
Arogundade urged all electoral stakeholders to act responsibly, avoid bias, and remain accountable, stressing that government and security agencies must provide a safe and enabling environment for journalists, including access to information and justice for attacks on reporters. He added that political parties must also support credible media coverage, refrain from attacks on journalists, and ensure the media can work freely and professionally throughout the election period.
Dr. Akin Akingbulu, Executive Director of CEMESO, described the forum as a timely intervention for an election that is sensitive and vulnerable to misinformation and political interference. He warned about the rising threats of disinformation, AI-driven fake news, and recycled insecurity narratives, and stressed that journalists must embed fact-checking into their routine newsroom culture. Dr. Akingbulu also called for stronger protection for journalists, noting that “the integrity of democratic processes is tied to the safety of those who report them.”
A standout moment of the first day of the forum came with a compelling presentation by Dr. Njideka Ezeonyejiaku of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, titled “Embedding Ethics, Professionalism, Inclusion, and Issue-Focused Reporting Before and After the Anambra Governorship Election.” She emphasized the critical role of journalism in empowering citizens, providing them with accurate, timely, and objective information necessary to make informed decisions.
Ethics and professionalism session with Dr. Ezeonyejiaku
Dr. Ezeonyejiaku highlighted that ethics in journalism involves maintaining fairness, balance, and truth in every report. Professionalism, she explained, requires the consistent application of established journalistic principles and rules to ensure credibility. Inclusion, she stressed, demands that all voices are heard, particularly those of women, youth, the elderly, marginalized communities, and persons with disabilities, so that election coverage reflects the entire society.
She also underscored the importance of issue-focused reporting, urging journalists to move beyond political personalities and campaigns to shine a light on pressing development concerns, including healthcare, education, infrastructure, social welfare, and governance. By adopting fact-driven, people-cantered storytelling, Dr. Ezeonyejiaku argued, journalists can foster public trust and strengthen democratic accountability, ensuring that media coverage contributes positively to the electoral process.
Stakeholders Outline Election Preparations and Collaborative Measures
Stakeholders at the forum engage on election issues.
Day Two of the forum brought together the full spectrum of stakeholders responsible for ensuring a credible Anambra election, creating a space where strategy, accountability, and public service intersected. Journalists, security agencies, civil society actors, and INEC officials engaged in frank conversations about readiness, collaboration, and the shared responsibility of safeguarding the democratic process.
Lanre Arogundade, IPC ED, gives the welcome remarks
Opening the session, Mr. Lanre Arogundade reminded all participants that elections are a test of integrity and focus. He emphasized that institutions must rise above partisan interests and be accountable not just to the law, but to the people they serve. Journalists, he noted, play a vital role as watchdogs and were encouraged to interrogate INEC’s logistics, voter education campaigns, and security arrangements to ensure citizens received accurate and timely information.
Opening remarks delivered by Dr. Akingbulu
Speaking at the EU-SDGN II media forum, Dr. Akin Akingbulu emphasized that timely and accurate information is crucial to preventing misinformation, reducing voter apathy, and maintaining public trust. He warned that off-cycle elections are particularly sensitive, with political pressure and misinformation posing serious challenges.
He stressed that journalists must combat false narratives, strengthen civic and voter education, promote the inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs), and operate safely. Highlighting the growing threat of AI-driven misinformation and deepfakes, he urged rigorous fact-checking at every stage of reporting.
Akingbulu concluded by calling on all election institutions to perform their duties professionally and collaborate closely with the media to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
Plenary with SP Tochukwu Ikenga on election security
The Police Public Relations Officer for Anambra State, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, highlighted that journalists were not the source of misinformation. Rather, it was content creators who often bypassed due diligence in pursuit of sensational narratives. He commended journalists for their professionalism and careful reporting, explaining that their balanced coverage had reshaped perceptions of security in the state. According to him, the collective efforts of security agencies and the media had transformed Anambra from a place associated with “unknown gunmen” attacks into a state where citizens actively collaborate with authorities to maintain peace. He also detailed the police’s operational planning, stressing that November 8 would be approached as a coordinated one-off election, supported by multiple security agencies, with deployment strategies designed to protect voters and the electoral process. On concerns about vote buying, he noted that inducements were emerging outside polling units and called on stakeholders, particularly journalists and civil society, to promote voter education and responsible reporting.
Complementing the police perspective, NSCDC Anambra State Command, represented by SC Okadigbo Edwin, explained that their mandate was to safeguard electoral infrastructure and maintain a peaceful environment. He urged journalists to report responsibly, avoiding sensationalism that could escalate tensions, and highlighted the agency’s efforts to curb illegal private security operations often used to manipulate elections.
Mr. Edozie, State Director of the National Orientation Agency, stressed the power of information in shaping voter behaviour. He described the agency’s outreach in all 21 local government areas, engaging churches, traditional rulers, market women, and civic groups to encourage voter registration and participation. He noted that past voter apathy stemmed from a perception that votes did not count, and the agency’s campaigns aimed to restore public confidence, ensuring that the November 8 election would see broad participation.
Jake Epelle highlights key issues on electoral inclusion
Inclusion in the electoral process was a recurring theme, reinforced by the Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle. He highlighted the need for electoral institutions, political parties, and security agencies to embrace inclusivity, ensuring that persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups could participate fully. He urged journalists to reflect these realities in their reporting and to hold all actors accountable for upholding inclusive practices, stressing that neutrality and fairness by security agencies were essential for maintaining trust.
Participants Pledge Ethical Reporting
Over the course of two days, participants engaged in interactive panels, scenario-based exercises, and practical case studies, exploring challenges and solutions for responsible and inclusive electoral coverage. Sessions emphasized fact checking, combating misinformation, and fostering accountability across institutions, media, and civil society.
Participants also developed actionable recommendations for improving reportage standards, promoting inclusivity in election coverage, and enhancing coordination among stakeholders. The forum underscored the critical role of collaboration, ethics, and transparency in safeguarding democratic processes and ensuring that all voices, especially marginalized groups, are represented in electoral narratives.
Stakeholders and Journalists Laud Election Forum
Bringing the forum to a close, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Dr. Odogwu Emeka, commended IPC for its deliberate efforts to strengthen journalists, highlighting how the engagement had equipped them to shape society through thoughtful, responsible reporting.
Voices from the floor reflected this impact: Mrs. Maureen Osadebe of NTA Awka described the training as an eye-opener that deepened her grasp of election reportage, inclusive coverage, and voter education, while Uuchenna Ezeadigwe of News Echo emphasized how the insights had reignited his commitment to fact-based journalism.
Both pledged not only to apply the lessons in their own work but also to pass them on to colleagues who were absent, ensuring the forum’s influence would ripple across the newsroom and beyond.
The forum closed on a note of unified commitment. Stakeholders acknowledged that credible elections require collaboration, transparency, and vigilance. Journalists, security agencies, and civic actors emerged with renewed determination to ensure that the November 8 Anambra governorship election would not only be peaceful and transparent but also inclusive and reflective of the collective will of the people.
Media Engagements: Extending the Conversation to the Airwaves
Building on the multi-stakeholder forum in Anambra, the International Press Centre (IPC) and Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) expanded outreach to counter misinformation and boost voter confidence ahead of the November 8 governorship election. The Executive Directors, Dr. Akin Akingbulu (CEMESO) and Mr. Lanre Arogundade (IPC), appeared on ABS (Anambra Broadcasting Service) and Ogene 98.5 FM, discussing critical electoral issues and providing citizens with timely, accurate information to strengthen inclusive participation and informed decision-making.
Deepening Voter Understanding and Countering Misinformation
The Ogene FM broadcast provided a direct channel to the public, enabling the Executive Directors to clarify misconceptions, respond to citizens’ concerns, and shed light on the collective responsibilities required to achieve peaceful, transparent, and credible elections in Anambra State. What followed was a rich and engaging conversation grounded in the realities of the electoral landscape and the urgent need for media integrity and informed civic participation.
Dr. Akingbulu began by outlining CEMESO’s mission to strengthen the interaction between the media and society, especially during elections when accurate, inclusive information is most needed. He stressed that for the November 8 election to be credible, every stakeholder, including the media, security agencies, transporters, polling unit officials, and the electoral body, must perform their roles effectively. CEMESO’s overarching goal, he said, is to support an electoral process where votes count and every citizen feels represented.
Mr. Lanre Arogundade expanded on IPC’s mandate to empower journalists through capacity building and resources. He reiterated that Section 22 of the Constitution places a profound responsibility on the media to hold government accountable, making journalists essential defenders of democracy. In response to the rising tide of misinformation, he urged reporters to intensify fact checking, monitor social media narratives, and avoid sharing unverified content, especially through platforms like WhatsApp where false information can spread rapidly.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of inclusion. Dr. Akingbulu noted that groups such as persons with disabilities, women, youths, the elderly, and rural residents are often underserved in elections. While acknowledging INEC’s ongoing efforts to address these gaps, such as providing assistive devices and engaging PWD communities, he emphasized that more collaborative action is needed to ensure that no group is left behind.
Dr. Akin Akingbulu (CEMESO) and Mr. Lanre Arogundade (IPC) speak to citizens on Ogene FM, promoting informed and inclusive Participation, ABS session: Dr. Akin Akingbulu and Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Comrade Tochukwu Ifejika Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu promote inclusive participation
Listeners also raised pressing concerns about vote buying, market closures on election day, and the economic pressures that make citizens vulnerable to inducements. Arogundade underscored that curbing vote buying requires continuous voter education and stronger enforcement mechanisms, including the proposed Electoral Offences Commission. Dr. Akingbulu added that vote buying undermines the legitimacy of elections and that stakeholders must develop coordinated strategies to address its root causes.
Security during elections was another key topic. Arogundade explained that security agencies must protect voters, INEC officials, and materials while maintaining neutrality and professionalism. He also noted ongoing engagement with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), whose grassroots presence is critical for spreading accurate voter information.
In closing, both Executive Directors called on citizens to come out en masse on November 8, emphasizing that improved voter turnout is essential for strengthening democracy. They also encouraged journalists to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, ensuring that the electoral process remains transparent, inclusive, and credible.