IPC, CEMESO Rally Stakeholders to Confront Rising Attacks on Journalists Ahead of 2027 Elections
Oru Leonard
The International Press Centre and CEMESO have convened key national stakeholders in Abuja to address the growing wave of attacks against journalists and strengthen mechanisms for media protection ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The engagement, held at the BON Hotel Octagon, formed part of the Support-to-Media Component of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance (EU-SDGN) Phase II Project.
Speaking at the event, Executive Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade, warned that the safety of journalists has become a major democratic concern, noting that attacks on media professionals threaten public trust and accountability.
According to him, IPC documented at least 20 attacks on journalists during Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, ranging from physical assaults to unlawful arrests and detention.
He stressed that media protection should not be seen solely as a media issue but as a societal responsibility essential for sustaining democracy, peace, and transparency.
Arogundade disclosed that IPC plans to engage the Office of the Inspector General of Police to develop a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at safeguarding journalists during forthcoming elections.
He also called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, security agencies, the judiciary, civil society groups, media organisations, and international partners to improve rapid response systems and ensure accountability for attacks on journalists.
In his welcome address, Executive Director of CEMESO, Akin Akingbulu, described the gathering as a crucial intervention driven by mounting evidence of sustained pressure on press freedom in Nigeria.
Akingbulu said the engagement was designed not as another routine conversation, but as a structured, evidence-based dialogue aimed at securing concrete institutional commitments to tackle attacks on media professionals.
He noted that documented incidents compiled by IPC and CEMESO revealed troubling patterns of intimidation, repression, and impunity affecting journalists across the country.
According to him, press freedom remains central to democratic accountability and citizens’ access to credible information.
He warned that continued attacks on journalists could undermine Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the Ekiti, Osun, and 2027 general elections.
Akingbulu further revealed that journalists in Ekiti State had expressed anxiety over safety concerns ahead of the forthcoming governorship election, describing the situation as a reflection of Nigeria’s recurring electoral challenges.
The stakeholder engagement brought together representatives of security agencies, judicial institutions, civil society organisations, media professionals, Academia and development partners to review trends in attacks on journalists and discuss prevention, response, and accountability mechanisms. Notable among them were, National Orientation Agency (NOA), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (COCOP) and Centre for Investigative Journalism and Development (CIJD).
Participants also explored policy and regulatory reforms aimed at safeguarding press freedom and protecting digital rights in Nigeria.
The organisers expressed appreciation to the for supporting initiatives geared towards strengthening democratic governance and media freedom in the country.
