Media professionals and political leaders have warned that the growing use of artificial intelligence, hate speech and digital disinformation could undermine Nigeria’s 2027 general election, urging journalists to strengthen verification mechanisms and uphold professional standards.
They spoke at the launch of Digital Shift in Nigeria’s Newspaper Industry, authored by the Group News Editor of Leadership Newspapers, Dr Sunday Isuwa, in Abuja on Thursday.
President of Vision Africa and former Special Assistant to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on Privatisation, Archbishop Sunday Onuoha, called on media organisations to establish dedicated election integrity desks and introduce clear policies regulating the use of artificial intelligence in news production.
Onuoha, who presented a paper through the Methodist Bishop of the Diocese of Kubwa, Bishop Frederick Onoja, said newsrooms must prepare for the challenges posed by AI-generated content and the increasing spread of false information across digital platforms.
He urged media organisations to develop written guidelines governing AI-generated materials and AI-assisted journalism, while establishing partnerships with credible fact-checking organisations.
The archbishop also advocated specialised training for political reporters in electoral laws, data journalism, digital investigations, AI detection, conflict-sensitive reporting and hate speech monitoring.
He said media organisations should clearly distinguish between editorial content and political advertisements, ensure sponsored materials are properly labelled and adopt transparent correction policies.
Onuoha further recommended misinformation hotlines, journalist safety training and partnerships with universities and civil society organisations to strengthen election monitoring.
He urged journalists to shift election coverage from personalities to issues affecting citizens, including employment, education, healthcare, security, infrastructure, corruption, poverty, climate change and economic management.
In his welcome remarks, Isuwa warned that the pressure to publish breaking news in the digital age must not come at the expense of accuracy, ethics and public trust.
He said although digital technology had transformed news production and distribution, it could not replace the professional judgment required for credible journalism.
“Digital tools can help journalism reach more people and tell stories in new ways. But technology alone cannot guarantee good journalism. That still depends on ethical practice, careful verification, fairness, and commitment to serving the public,” he said.
Isuwa identified misinformation, changing business models and declining public confidence as major challenges confronting the newspaper industry.
He explained that his book examined how digital platforms had transformed the production, distribution and consumption of news, while highlighting the responsibilities that came with technological advancement.
Also speaking, Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, expressed concern over the growing use of hate speech and personal attacks in political campaigns, urging political actors to focus on issues rather than individuals.
Yusuf, represented by the state Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, said political disagreements should not translate into attacks capable of undermining the dignity of public institutions.
He maintained that elected offices deserved respect irrespective of disagreements with their occupants, warning politicians against encouraging a culture of ridicule that could eventually affect them when they assume public offices.
Similarly, Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, urged journalists to make responsible reporting and rigorous fact-checking central to their coverage of the 2027 elections.
Sani, represented by the state Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, said journalists must go beyond reporting events to investigate issues, verify claims and examine their implications for democracy.
“We must report responsibly so that Nigeria will continue to thrive,” he said.
The governor warned that technological advancement was also changing newsroom operations and threatening traditional media jobs, urging journalists to acquire multimedia skills to remain relevant.
He noted that artificial intelligence was increasingly disrupting journalism, writing, music and other creative industries, making adaptation necessary for professionals in the affected sectors.
The Country Director of Global Peace Foundation Nigeria and Chairman of the Northern Christian Association, Reverend John Joseph Hayab, said public trust remained the most important asset of media organisations.
“No matter how much any media organisation makes, when it loses the currency of trust, it’s just a matter of time before it will shut down,” he said.
Hayab also called on Nigerians to take ownership of the democratic process rather than leaving political participation entirely to politicians and political parties.
Referring to the Osun State election, he said citizens’ active monitoring of the voting process offered important lessons on public participation and electoral accountability.
“This republic cannot be allowed to be a republic of politicians. It must be a republic for citizens, and citizens must take ownership of their democracy,” he said.
Meanwhile, the founder of Aerokeys Nigeria Limited, Kudla Milinda Haske, called for increased public awareness to address voter apathy and encourage greater participation in the 2027 general election.
Haske questioned the legitimacy of claims of broad popular support when voter turnout remained low despite Nigeria’s large population.
He argued that a country of about 230 million people should record significantly higher participation than the less than 20 million voters he cited for previous elections.
He urged political parties and other stakeholders to intensify voter education and engage credible public figures to encourage citizens to participate in the electoral process.
Haske said Nigerians must recognise the importance of their votes and take greater responsibility for determining the country’s political leadership.
