The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has told Nigerian Editors that they would not be bystanders in the 2027 elections in the country.
Uzodimma said this in his Keynote Address at the opening ceremony of the All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Abuja on Wednesday.
The ANEC, in its 21st year, is organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
The Imo State governor reminded editors of the providential words of Stephen Ward, a leading scholar of journalism ethics, who stated: “Journalism objectivity is both an epistemic and an ethical principle.”
He said objectivity was not simply neutrality and not the mechanical transcription of events as if such transcription were even possible.
He also said editors would not be bystanders in the 2027 elections but catalysts whose narratives would shape the nation’s democratic future.
The governor said editors wielded immense influence in shaping national perception and must be accountable for the narratives they promote, particularly during election seasons.
He said: “You are not spectators in 2027; you are catalysts.
“The narratives you shape will determine whether Nigerians see the elections through a tribal lens or a shared national destiny.
Senator Uzodimma urged editors to take greater responsibility in protecting electoral integrity and restoring public confidence, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Also Read
- Media experts warn human interest journalism fading in Nigeria
- Tinubu engages global investors in Paris
- Hajj 2026: Sanwo-Olu urges Lagos pilgrims to pray for Nigeria
- Ekiti to make history with Oyebanji’s re-election — Oni
- UBA, Redtech, MoMo PSB expand merchant payment access
He said: “If you have a role in democratic governance and national cohesion, you must also assume responsibility for electoral integrity.
“Without electoral integrity, there can be no democracy.”
He noted that media coverage of the 2023 elections contributed to public mistrust, with some reports portraying the electoral process as collapsed, based on selective or premature calls.
He cited the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer, which found that 49 percent of Nigerians distrust the media, describing the trend as “deeply alarming”.
He warned that editorial choices carried consequences: decisions on what to publish, which voices to prioritise, and how political events are framed directly affect national cohesion, voter confidence, and democratic resilience.
“When every disagreement is framed as a crisis and every electoral challenge treated as systemic fraud, you feed polarisation and deepen distrust,” he said.
Uzodimma called on editors to embrace an “objectivity of responsibility” anchored on accuracy, verification and context, rather than speed or sensationalism driven by commercial pressure.
“Let 2027 be the year the Nigerian media becomes the architect of a shared democratic future,” he added.
