By Chidinma Chukwu, Abuja

ABUJA — The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged broadcasters to uphold accuracy, fairness and professional independence in their coverage of the 2027 general elections.

Idris said responsible broadcasting should not be equated with favourable reporting, stressing that broadcasters had a duty to scrutinise government, political parties, candidates and public institutions.

The minister made the call on Monday in Bauchi in a speech delivered on his behalf by the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jibrin Baba Ndace, at the 3rd Annual National Conference of the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters (SNB).

The development was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Assistant (Media) to the minister, Rabiu Ibrahim.

Idris urged broadcasters to ensure that information presented to the public was verified and properly contextualised, particularly amid the rapid spread of information through social media and the growing use of artificial intelligence.

“Responsible broadcasting, however, should never be interpreted as favourable broadcasting. A professional media must continue to question government, political parties, candidates and public institutions. It must investigate, scrutinise and hold those in positions of responsibility to account,” he said.

He said broadcasters should clearly distinguish between facts, allegations, opinions and unverified claims in their reports.

“Verification cannot be treated as an occasional newsroom procedure; it must remain at the heart of professional broadcasting,” Idris said.

The minister also urged broadcasters to avoid hate speech, ethnic and religious provocation and the deliberate circulation of false information during the 2027 electoral period.

He, however, stressed the importance of providing space for legitimate political debate and criticism, noting that political competition was an essential component of democracy.

“Political competition is an essential part of democracy, but it must not be allowed to become a source of incitement, hate speech, ethnic or religious provocation, or the deliberate circulation of false information,” he said.

Idris also highlighted Federal Government initiatives in the broadcasting sector, including the Digital Switch Over platform and the ongoing modernisation of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and VON.

He said technological advancement would continue to shape the future of broadcasting, but added that the credibility of the industry would depend largely on the professionalism of practitioners.

The minister urged the SNB and broadcasters across the country to strengthen professional training, election reporting, verification practices and efforts to address AI-generated misinformation ahead of the 2027 general elections.