Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has called on Nigerian editors to be catalysts for democracy, national cohesion, and electoral integrity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Delivering the keynote address at the 2025 All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC) in Abuja, Uzodimma said editors wield immense power to shape public opinion and sustain the nation’s democratic values.
He said the conference’s theme, “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors,” and sub-theme, “Electoral Integrity and Trust Deficit: What Nigerians Expect in 2027,” underscored the central role of the media in safeguarding democracy.
“Without electoral integrity, there can be no democracy. Electoral integrity begets democracy, and democracy begets good governance,” Uzodimma said.
The governor reminded editors that objectivity in journalism is both an ethical and professional responsibility.
“Objectivity is not neutrality. Every editorial choice—what story leads, which voice gets prominence, and what narrative dominates—is interpretative and carries consequences,” he stated.
He urged editors to prioritise accuracy over speed, verification over virality, and context over clickbait, stressing that the pen remains a more powerful weapon than the sword in shaping nations.
Uzodimma expressed concern over the decline in public trust in the media, citing the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer, which showed that only 51 per cent of Nigerians trust the media.
“Nearly half of Nigerians distrust the media. They trust corporations seeking profit more than journalists seeking truth. This is an institutional crisis,” he said.
He cautioned that media narratives around elections often deepened divisions and undermined trust in democratic institutions.
“When coverage treats every electoral challenge as systemic fraud rather than an imperfect but improving process, it reinforces distrust and weakens democracy,” he said.
The governor charged editors to uphold editorial integrity, describing it as the foundation of electoral integrity.
“If misinformation, rumour, and tribalism are allowed to masquerade as journalism, electoral integrity is compromised even before a vote is cast,” he said.
Uzodimma further urged editors to promote stories that unite rather than divide Nigerians, particularly as the nation prepares for the 2027 elections.
“National interest must be your editorial north star. Coverage should inform without inflaming, and hold power accountable without framing every contest as catastrophe,” he said.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for prioritising national cohesion and combating disinformation through strategic communication initiatives, including the National Orientation Agency and ministerial briefings.
Uzodimma urged editors to rise to the challenge of shaping Nigeria’s democratic future.
“You are not spectators in 2027; you are active participants. The narratives you shape will determine whether Nigerians approach 2027 with hope or cynicism.
Let 2027 be the year journalism became an architect of national unity and democratic integrity,” he said.
