Professor Dunu has called on Nigerian journalists to adopt a more investigative approach to election coverage, urging them to scrutinise campaign promises and prioritise the needs of citizens ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a recent workshop, the academic emphasised that the role of the press must evolve from merely relaying political rhetoric to conducting deep investigations into the actual deeds and impact of political actors.
He argued that effective election journalism must move beyond reporting what politicians say to investigating what they do, verifying what they claim, and establishing how their decisions affect citizens’ lives.
Accountability and the media’s role
The call for more rigorous reporting addresses a long-standing challenge in Nigerian media, where “stenography journalism” often dominates election cycles. In many instances, reporters have been criticised for acting as mere mouthpieces, recording political manifestos and slogans without investigating their feasibility or comparing them to the actual track records of candidates. This lack of scrutiny can lead to a political environment where unverified promises become the standard for engagement.
By shifting focus toward investigative scrutiny, the professor suggested that journalists can provide the electorate with the clarity required to make informed choices. This involves cross-referencing campaign manifestos with policy implementation and tracking how political decisions translate into economic or social realities for the general public.
As Nigeria enters the early stages of the 2027 electoral cycle, the pressure on the media to maintain objectivity and depth is increasing. The rise of digital misinformation and unverified political propaganda requires newsrooms to strengthen fact-checking capabilities and prioritise the verification of claims made during rallies, debates, and social media campaigns.
The professor also stressed the importance of “impact journalism,” where reporters look specifically at the relationship between political actions and the daily lives of Nigerians. This includes examining how political decisions influence critical sectors such as inflation, security, and infrastructure. This approach ensures that the media functions as a true watchdog rather than a facilitator of political rhetoric.
The ability of the press to verify these promises will likely dictate the level of accountability expected from candidates as the election season approaches.
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