The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Correspondents’ Chapel, Abia State Council, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide adequate logistical support for journalists deployed to cover the 2027 general elections. This appeal was made during the grand finale of its 2026 Press Week, held at the Bishop Anthony Nwedo Pastoral Centre, Umuahia. The Chapel's chairman, Deacon Steve Oko, emphasized the critical role journalists play in informing the public and holding the electoral process accountable.
Oko lamented that journalists are often left to make their own logistical arrangements while covering elections. He urged INEC to address technical and operational challenges that marred the transmission of presidential election results in 2023 to prevent a recurrence in the next electoral cycle. The Chapel chairman also suggested that INEC consider engaging experienced journalists with proven integrity as returning officers and other ad hoc personnel for the 2027 general elections.
According to Oko, journalists' professional training in observation, documentation, and accurate reporting could contribute to strengthening the credibility of the electoral process and restoring public confidence in election results. He further called on INEC to ensure the effective functioning of the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) and guarantee real-time transmission of results from polling units in line with the law and established electoral guidelines.
The Chapel chairman also appealed to security agencies to guarantee the safety of journalists during the elections, warning against harassment, intimidation, and attacks on media practitioners covering political activities. On journalists' welfare, Oko called on governments, corporate organizations, and public-spirited individuals to support a special insurance scheme and structured welfare arrangements for practicing correspondents.
The 2026 Press Week, themed "The Future of Journalism in an Era of Disinformation: Preparing Abia Media Practitioners for Democracy and the 2027 Polls," focused on artificial intelligence (AI), fact-checking, misinformation, ethical election reporting, journalists' safety, and hate speech. As part of the activities, the Chapel organized a two-day professional retreat for over 50 journalists and media practitioners drawn from different media organizations in Abia State.
The programme provided National Assembly candidates across political parties with an opportunity to present their manifestoes, promoting informed electoral choices and providing a level playing field for political engagement. The Chapel used the occasion to honor some eminent Nigerians, including Professor Nnenna Oti, who served as the returning officer for the 2023 governorship election in Abia State, for her exemplary leadership and integrity in public service.
The Chairman of the NUJ, Abia State Council, Comrade Chide Asonye, congratulated the leadership and members of the Correspondents’ Chapel for organizing a timely and intellectually stimulating programme. He emphasized that journalism is at a defining moment, with the speed of information dissemination increasingly outpacing the diligence required for verification, and warned that unverified claims and manipulated information were increasingly being circulated as facts.
Key points
- NUJ requests logistical support and insurance for journalists covering 2027 elections
- Journalists' professional training can strengthen electoral process credibility
- Effective functioning of INEC Result Viewing Portal crucial for transparent election results
