2027 Elections: Kano Govt Urges Journalists to Uphold Fair, Objective Reporting

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The Kano State Government has urged journalists to uphold fairness, objectivity and professionalism in their coverage of the 2027 general elections, warning against reports capable of fuelling ethnic, religious, regional or political tensions.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Faruk Ibrahim, made the call on Sunday at the opening of the 2026 Retreat of the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Kaduna.

The retreat, themed “2027 General Elections: Navigating Legal, Security and Ethical Challenges in the Media,” brought together journalists and other media professionals to examine the challenges of election reporting and the media’s role in safeguarding the credibility of the electoral process.

Represented by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mustapha Muhammad, the SSG said journalists must prioritise accuracy, fairness, impartiality, balance and the public interest as political activities intensify ahead of the elections.

“As journalists, we have a responsibility to avoid publishing materials capable of inflaming ethnic, religious, regional or political divisions. Election reporting should be guided by accuracy, fairness, impartiality, balance and the public interest,” he said.

Ibrahim noted that political disagreements were normal in a democracy but cautioned journalists against allowing such differences to degenerate into hostility through irresponsible reporting.

“Journalists must be particularly careful when reporting allegations, campaign speeches, inflammatory statements and clashes between political supporters,” he said.

He also cautioned media organisations against amplifying provocative statements merely because they are sensational or using headlines that misrepresent the substance of stories to attract attention.

According to him, the responsibility of the media is particularly important in Kano because of the state’s size, diversity and political significance.

“As the state approaches the 2027 general elections, journalists and media organisations must strike a careful balance between robust scrutiny of government and responsible reporting that recognises genuine developmental efforts,” he added.

The SSG stressed the need for all stakeholders to promote peace before, during and after the elections, noting that political contests should not undermine the unity of the state.

“Elections will come and go, but our beloved Kano will remain. Above all, we must create an atmosphere conducive to peace and harmony even after the elections,” he said.

Presenting a paper titled “Legal Boundaries and Ethical Obligations in Election Reporting,” legal practitioner Barrister Abdulsalam Yusuf urged journalists to familiarise themselves with electoral laws and the legal limitations governing media reporting ahead of the 2027 polls.

Yusuf said press freedom comes with corresponding responsibilities, particularly during politically sensitive periods.

He urged journalists to understand the distinction between legitimate public-interest reporting and publications that could violate existing laws, damage reputations or threaten public peace.

The legal practitioner also advised journalists to exercise caution when reporting allegations, political claims and unverified information, stressing the need to give affected individuals or organisations an opportunity to respond before publication.

Declaring the retreat open, Kaduna State Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, commended the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel for organising the programme, describing the initiative as timely ahead of the 2027 general elections.