As political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, have called for closer cooperation between security agencies and the media to ensure peaceful and credible elections.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, gave the assurance in Abuja on Wednesday at an election security workshop organized by the NUJ with the theme; ‘Responsible Security Reporting in the Age of Citizen Journalism: Protecting Nigeria’s Stability Ahead of the 2027 Elections’.
He pledged that the Force would protect lives and property, maintain public order and safeguard citizens’ democratic rights throughout the electoral process.
Represented by the Director of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, AIG Akaninyene Ezima Disu said the Force was already aligning its operational framework for the pre-election, voting and post-election periods.
He also pledged greater transparency and accessibility in police engagement with journalists, saying effective communication between security agencies and the media was vital to building public confidence.
Disu said the police welcomed legitimate scrutiny of their operations, urging journalists to investigate allegations of misconduct and human rights violations while maintaining professional and evidence-based reporting.
He warned, however, that election security could not be achieved by security agencies alone, calling for stronger collaboration with journalists, social media influencers and citizen reporters.
According to him, the increasing use of artificial intelligence to produce convincing fake audio, photographs and videos posed a new challenge to election security and could trigger panic or violence.
He urged journalists and the public to exercise caution when dealing with election results and security alerts, stressing that political claims and social media posts should not be mistaken for official information.
‘A party’s claim is not automatically an official result. A social media post is not automatically a verified security alert,’ he said.
The IGP also urged citizens to consider the potential consequences of what they share online, saying digital platforms could either contribute to peace or fuel tension during the elections.
In a related development, NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, urged journalists covering security and electoral matters to uphold professional standards in the face of the rapid growth of citizen journalism.
Speaking on ‘Responsible Security Reporting in the Age of Citizen Journalism: Protecting Nigeria’s Stability Ahead of the 2027 Elections,’ Ike said the speed and volume of information on digital platforms had increased the risks associated with security reporting.
She urged journalists to protect confidential sources, victims and vulnerable witnesses, while avoiding publication of sensitive details that could compromise security operations or endanger lives.
Ike also called on security agencies to engage transparently with journalists and respect press freedom, while urging media organisations to strengthen fact-checking systems and provide continuous training for reporters.
She said journalists should balance the public’s right to know with the responsibility to avoid harm, stressing that responsible reporting could help protect communities and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
Ike urged security correspondents and other journalists to approach the 2027 elections with ‘rigor, humility and a commitment to the public interest.’