By Ayodele Abere
Media professionals and civil society actors have been urged to strengthen digital safety practices and uphold professional standards ahead of the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026.
The call was made on Tuesday during a virtual conversation on _Digital Rights, Election Reporting and Cybersecurity organized by the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Phase II [EU-SDGN II] programme.
In his welcome remarks, IPC Executive Director Lanre Arogundade said the engagement was timely as democracy increasingly shifts into digital spaces where information spreads rapidly and threats have become more sophisticated.
“Election reporting is no longer limited to physical observation of electoral processes. It now extends into cyberspace a space shaped by surveillance, online harassment, hacking, misinformation and disinformation campaigns,” Arogundade said.
He noted that journalists now face multidimensional risks beyond physical assaults, including cyber harassment, unlawful surveillance, account breaches, online trolling, and the misuse of cybercrime laws to suppress public-interest journalism.
Citing data from the Committee to Protect Journalists, he said at least 29 Nigerian journalists have faced prosecution under the Cybercrimes Act since 2015, and more than 40 incidents against journalists covering elections and political developments have been documented in recent years. IPC’s Safety and Protection of Journalists Hub also recorded no fewer than 20 attacks on journalists during the 2023 general elections.
Arogundade said IPC was upgrading its election safety advisory into a comprehensive toolkit and engaging the Police and National Human Rights Commission to improve the operating environment for journalists.
“Democracy thrives when journalists can report freely, safely and responsibly without fear of violence, intimidation or digital repression,” he said.
Also speaking, CEMESO Executive Director Dr. Akin Akingbulu said the 2027 general election cycle was already underway and posed heightened risks for journalists, particularly women who face targeted online harassment and deepfakes.
He said Nigeria’s electoral technology, including BVAS and the IReV portal, faced hacking attempts in 2023 and would be under greater threat in 2027, at a time when voter turnout has fallen to 26 percent — a figure INEC Chairman has described as a national security risk.
Akingbulu, however, noted that Nigeria has one of the most developed fact-checking ecosystems in West Africa, with the Nigerian Fact-Checkers Coalition demonstrating coordinated verification capacity during the 2023 elections.
The virtual session was structured around four themes: digital rights and freedom of expression, cybersecurity and online safety, managing digital risks and journalist safety, and responsible election reporting.
Facilitators included Prof. Adebola Adewunmi Aderibigbe, Dr. Olunifesi Suraj, and Dr. Qasim Akinreti. Perspectives were also expected from the NUJ Ekiti State Council and media house leaders ahead of the Ekiti governorship poll.
The event was supported by the European Union through the EU-SDGN II Programme.
