By David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi
As preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, the International Press Centre (IPC) has urged Nigerians to understand that the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) is an electoral instrument for exercising their voting rights, not merely an identification card.
The centre also called on journalists, editors and online media publishers to prioritise fact-checking, accountability journalism and public-interest reporting to prevent misinformation and disinformation from undermining the credibility of the electoral process.
The Executive Director of IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade, gave the charge during a two-day engagement with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), editors and online media publishers which ended in Akure, Ondo State, yesterday.
Arogundade, who was represented by the centre’s Programme Manager, Stella Nwofia, said the engagement was designed to strengthen journalists’ capacity to provide accurate, balanced, credible and inclusive coverage of the 2027 general elections.
The programme was organised under Component Four, Support to Media, of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Phase III programme.
The IPC executive director stressed the importance of promoting public understanding of electoral participation, including the purpose of the PVC as a tool for eligible citizens to exercise their right to vote.
The emphasis, he said, comes amid the need to ensure that citizens understand electoral procedures and the requirements for participating effectively in the democratic process.
He also charged the media to ensure that voters were adequately informed about candidates, political parties, electoral issues and proposed policies for addressing the country’s challenges.
According to him, election reporting should extend beyond campaign rallies, political defections and the activities of candidates to examine issues that directly affect the lives of citizens.
He urged journalists to scrutinise political manifestos, interrogate campaign promises and hold candidates and political parties accountable for their commitments to the electorate.
Arogundade identified the economy, education, healthcare, security, employment and infrastructure as critical areas that deserved adequate attention in election coverage.
He further called for inclusive reporting that would give women, young people, persons with disabilities and other underrepresented groups greater opportunities to contribute to discussions about the country’s political future.
The IPC executive director warned that sensational journalism, unverified claims and the deliberate spread of false information could erode public confidence, deepen political divisions and weaken democratic institutions.
He urged media practitioners to strengthen their verification processes, cross-check information before publication and exercise caution when reporting politically sensitive issues.
He maintained that accuracy and credibility must take precedence over the pressure to break news, describing fact-checking as indispensable to responsible journalism, particularly during election periods.
Arogundade also underscored the importance of journalists’ safety and professional independence, urging relevant stakeholders to ensure that media practitioners could discharge their duties without intimidation, harassment or unlawful interference.
He said a free and independent media remained essential to democratic development, especially during elections when citizens depend on credible information to assess candidates and make informed choices.
The IPC maintained that issue-based reporting, rigorous fact-checking and accountability journalism would help deepen public understanding of the electoral process, strengthen democratic governance and promote informed participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
