A former Special Adviser to late President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has urged the Nigerian media to reject fake news, intensify scrutiny of the electoral process and pushed for the full implementation of electronic transmission of results ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Adesina made the call on Thursday while delivering the keynote address at the Melody 100.7 FM Anniversary Media Lecture themed, “The Media and National Stability: Navigating the 2027 Elections with Responsibility and Patriotism.”

The lecture was held at the Emeritus Professor Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, opposite the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

He warned that excessive reliance on social media for breaking news had weakened professional journalism standards, stressing the need for a return to ethical gatekeeping.

He said, “The media must eschew fake news. What we were taught was if in doubt, leave out. Weather is no longer a canon of journalism, I don’t understand. If in doubt, leave out. They just put anything now. Anything now. Anything. However fake. So media will report it.’’

He noted that while social media could serve as a source of breaking news, such information must be thoroughly cross-checked and fact-checked before publication, warning that irresponsible reporting could threaten national stability ahead of the 2027 polls.

“This is largely because of the influence of the social media, but we know that social media is not completely media you can trust.

“Social media is the one that can break news for you which you cross-check and fact-check before you run with it. So it is very important that the media must eschew fake news if we are all going to survive in 2027,’’ he said.

Adesina also charged the media to engage in constructive reporting by ensuring that enabling electoral laws were enacted and enforced, INEC funding released on time, and voter education intensified to curb voter apathy.

“Part of constructive reporting is for media to ensure that enabling laws are enacted timeously, INEC budget is released in good time, Voter education is conducted to reduce voter apathy. Tough penalties for vote buying, ballot stuffing, ballot destruction, ETC, are also enacted. It is not enough to just have these laws and they are there. They must be used,’’ he said.

He lamented the failure to punish electoral offenders from the 2023 general elections, warning that continued impunity could undermine future polls.

“All electoral offenders of 2023 election ask how many are behind bars how many are behind bars I don’t know those who committed those crimes in 2023 will come again in 2027 commit the same crimes and still get away with it so unless electoral criminals are punished things will not change in our country,’’ he said.

On electoral reforms, Adesina criticised the failure to implement electronic transmission of results in 2023 despite legal backing, describing it as a breach of the law.

“And then a point that the media must pursue is electronic voting. Electronic voting. In 2023, we were promised that results were going to be transmitted electronically. Did it happen? No. It didn’t happen. It didn’t happen. If we’re not careful, in 2027, results will still not be transmitted electronically. It’s a crime.

“If the law in a country says this is what must happen and then it doesn’t happen and you go ahead to declare a result, it’s a crime. It’s a crime. So the media must ensure that this time electronic transmission of results become a reality,’’ he said.

He urged journalists to go beyond routine reporting and scrutinise every stage of the electoral process, noting that flawed processes would inevitably produce flawed outcomes.

“Again, the media needs to ensure that they don’t just report but they also conduct scrutiny. Scrutiny. It will be part of the duty of the media this time to ensure that you scrutinize everything about the processes that lead to election. If there’s a problem, With the processes, there will naturally be a problem with the result,’’ he said.

He further suggested that upcoming off-season elections in Ekiti and Osun states should be used as test cases to assess preparedness ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“So, there are some elections coming up. Off-season elections. Osun will have elections. Then, which other state? Ekiti, Why don’t we use these two elections as test cases?,’’ he said.

According to him, continuous media literacy programmes, voter education, timely release of INEC funds and strict enforcement of penalties against electoral offences were essential to credible elections and national stability. (Daily Trust)

PHOTO: From R - L Mr. Femi Adesina. Spokesman to late President Muhammadu Buhari, Prophet Samuel Adebayo Ojo. Baba Authority, Chairman/CEO Melody FM, Ambassador Dr. Yemi Farounbi, Former Nigeria Ambassador to The Philippines, Pastor Mrs Folashade Ojo, MD Melody 100.7 FM. Mr. Eniola Afolabi, General Manager, Melody 100.7 FM Ibadan.

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