Stakeholders harp on ethical standard as ASKOMP holds media round table ahead of 2027 elections
The Association of Kwara Online Media Practitioners (ASKOMP) on Friday convened its maiden media roundtable on the 2027 General Elections in Kwara State, urging journalists to uphold professionalism, ethical standards, and objectivity as political activities gradually intensify.
The roundtable, held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Ilorin, was themed “Kwara 2027: Media, Politics, and the Search for Credible Leadership.”
In his opening address, ASKOMP Chairman and Publisher of The Informant247, Salihu Shola Taofeeq , said the engagement was necessitated by the growing political activities across the state, despite the fact that official campaigns for the 2027 elections are yet to commence.
He observed that political conversations, alignments, and ambitions are already unfolding in both formal and informal spaces, alongside the emergence of propaganda, misinformation, and sponsored narratives competing with genuine democratic discourse.
According to him, the media occupies a critical position during such periods, noting that information control is a powerful responsibility capable of either strengthening or undermining democracy.
Taofeeq described the 2027 general elections as a defining moment for Kwara State, one that will test the state’s political maturity, inclusiveness, accountability, and fairness, as well as the commitment of journalists to remain watchdogs of democracy rather than instruments of political convenience.
He further highlighted the expanding influence of online media, explaining that elections are no longer fought solely at polling units but also across digital platforms including blogs, social media timelines, messaging applications, and online news portals, where speed and virality often challenge accuracy and verification.
The ASKOMP chairman cautioned journalists against sensationalism, emotional reporting, and political patronage, stressing that truth, accuracy, fairness, and ethical conduct must remain the bedrock of journalism.
He added that the roundtable was designed to promote self-reflection among media practitioners, particularly on whether their reports truly serve the public interest or merely advance political actors, noting that journalistic credibility must outlive any political administration.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Director of the Institute for Legislative Studies, University of Ilorin, Dr. Bakare Rafiu, warned online media practititioners against allowing personal sentiments, emotions, and value judgments to influence political analysis, emphasizing that credible journalism is essential for informed citizen participation and good governance in Kwara State.
In his own speech, the Acting Director of the Kwara State University (KWASU) Centre for Politics and Corporate Governance, Dr. Ibrahim Ogirima Salawu, underscored the importance of zoning in Nigeria’s political framework, describing it as a principle rooted in natural justice that entitles all groups to political leadership.
Dr. Salawu said zoning plays a vital role in consolidating democracy and strengthening democratic life, urging political stakeholders to allow democratic principles to prevail by embracing inclusivity and equity in governance.
However, he cautioned that zoning must produce competent and credible candidates, stressing that it should not be sustained at the expense of good governance if it fails to deliver capable leadership.
As the framers of public conversation,Dr. Salawu enjoined the media practitioners to be circumspect in the setting political agenda, noting that the essence of the media is to be development-driven.
The Chairman of the Kwara Chapter of Nigerian Union of Journalists(NUJ), ‘Lanre Abdullateef lauded the idea of the programme and emphasised the need for media pracitioners to be conscious of ethics and law of the profession, this he said will help them avoid any form of action that could lead to litigation.
Also speaking, the Kwara State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Babatunde Abdulwaheed, commended ASKOMP for organizing the roundtable and urged journalists to embrace the advice from the guest speakers.
On his part, the Kwara State Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mallam Abdulrasheed Gbagba, emphasised the role of the media in democractic setting, adding that the citizens rely on the media for political consciousness and awakening.
