As 2027 Elections Approaches Media, Social Media Influencers Must StandUp Against Fake News, Presidency
From Muhammad Kabir, Kano
The Senior Special Assistant To President Tinubu on Media and Public Enlightenment, AbdulAziz AbdulAziz, has warned that as 2027 general Elections approaches, the line between free expression and reckless amplification gets thinner, and the Media and other Social Influencers most stand up to correct the wrongs.
He said, influencers must see themselves as custodians of public peace, not just content creators, they should Fact-check before they post, Correct mistakes openly, and must never allow the urge to trend to cost us our country.”
Speaking at the opening of the First Arewa Media Summit, Monday in Kano, AbdulAziz, hints that even on the sides of government, increasing access to information and dialogues serve as avenues that breach information gaps and help shut the door against merchants of fake news and desaffection.
He notes that the summit was arranged in the spirit of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to free speech, dialogue and deepening democracy. “It is designed to interrogate the often contentious two-way traffic that is the relationship between leaders and the led in a democracy.”
” President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a veteran of the democratic struggle is an unavowed believer in plurality of opinion and guaranteed place of free expression and dialogue. This summit, therefore, aggregates a wide-spectrum of stakeholders and different shades of opinions in the media and information ecosystem in Northern Nigeria.”
” As can be seen in the composition of our three panels, so it is in the nature of the audience. While we cannot bring everyone who should be here ,or wanted to be here, we have tried to reflect the plurality of Northern Nigeria with every state having representations.”
He said no nation develops in an atmosphere of distrust. When citizens doubt what government says, and government doubts what the media reports, visions get blurred, projects stall, policies fail, and communities fracture.
Therefore Ethical media practice restores that missing trust. Accurate reporting, fair context, and verified facts give citizens confidence to support their leaders even in turbulent times. They also give government the feedback it needs to serve better. In short: ethical media is not a luxury. It is infrastructure for unity, progress and growth.We cannot discuss ethics today without naming the new gatekeepers: social media influencers.”
AbdulAziz explained that the Social Media Influencers command attention our newsrooms once held alone. With that reach comes responsibility. A viral post can mobilize hope, but it can also mobilize anger before facts are checked.
Speaking the Minister of Information, Muhammad Idiris, hints that Northern Nigeria today depends on a balanced and responsible reporting, adding that the region’s future depends largely on the stories told about it.
Idris said development in the region would not only be measured by infrastructure but also by the quality of narratives shared about its people.
“The future of Northern Nigeria will not be determined only by the quality of our roads, our farms or our industries. It will also be shaped by the quality of our ideas and the stories we tell about ourselves,” he said.
He stressed that the media remains central to democracy, national unity and economic growth, urging practitioners to uphold accuracy, fairness and verification in the face of rising misinformation online.
According to him, “Falsehood often travels faster than truth. That is why professional journalism has never been more important.”
Idris reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to press freedom, noting that government will continue to support a conducive environment for journalists to operate responsibly.
He also urged reporters to balance narratives about Northern Nigeria, saying insecurity should not define the region alone.
“Northern Nigeria is far more than insecurity. It is home to entrepreneurs, farmers, innovators, researchers, artists, and young people who are transforming their communities every day,” he said.
Highlighting federal initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the minister listed infrastructure, education, security and economic reforms, including the NELFUND scheme and major highway projects.
He added that initiatives such as the International Media and Information Literacy Institute and the Digital Switch Over (FreeTV) platform would strengthen responsible journalism and curb misinformation.
The summit was attended by dignitaries including Abba Kabir Yusuf, representatives of Yobe State and Kebbi State, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, policymakers, media executives and digital creators.
Governor Yusuf of Kano State, commended the Media in their efforts in strengthening Nigeria harmonious relationship, added that in Kano he is working closely with the Journalists and Social media handlers for a better State.
