Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and his Kaduna counterpart, Uba Sani, have joined media experts and other stakeholders in calling for ethical journalism, stronger measures against misinformation and clear guidelines for artificial intelligence ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
They made the call on Thursday in Abuja during the launch of Digital Shift in Nigeria’s Newspaper Industry, a book authored by Leadership Newspapers Group News Editor, Sunday Isuwa.
Represented by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, Governor Yusuf expressed concern over the growing use of hate speech and personal attacks in political campaigns, urging politicians to focus on issues rather than attacking opponents.
Similarly, Governor Sani, represented by Kaduna State Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, urged journalists to go beyond reporting campaign activities by investigating claims, verifying facts and considering the impact of their reports on national stability.
Earlier, Archbishop Sunday Onuoha, President of Vision Africa, called on media organisations to establish written policies governing AI-generated and AI-assisted journalism.
He also recommended dedicated election verification teams, collaboration with fact-checking organisations and specialised training for political reporters in electoral law, data journalism, digital investigations and AI detection.
The book’s author, Isuwa, warned journalists against sacrificing accuracy, fairness and professional ethics in the rush to publish in the digital age.
The recommendations highlight the growing importance of newsroom accountability and digital verification as artificial intelligence creates new opportunities and challenges for election reporting.
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