IPC Urges Journalists to Uphold Ethics and Safety in Nigeria’s Election Coverage

The International Press Centre (IPC) has issued a clear call to action: journalists covering elections in Nigeria must strictly follow ethical guidelines and legal standards.

This reminder was given during a one-day media training workshop in Kano, held for journalists from Nigeria’s North West region, including Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, and Kaduna.

The workshop, part of the European Union’s Phase II initiative: Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria, was led by Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of IPC.

According to Arogundade, the aim was to equip journalists with the tools and insight needed to navigate the complex, and often risky, task of election coverage in Nigeria.

Some of the major obstacles identified during the training include:

• Political pressure and censorship

• Threats to journalist safety and insecurity in volatile areas

• Proliferation of fake news and misinformation

• Limited access to accurate, timely information

Arogundade emphasized the importance of the revised Nigeria Media Code of Election Coverage as a practical guide for safe and responsible reporting.

“A journalist can rely on the revised Nigeria media codes of election coverage available on app stores or in hard copy for safe election reporting in Nigeria,” he said.

“Media outlets must act morally and professionally, especially when public trust in democratic processes is fragile.”