Journalists can help ensure peaceful elections – Ex-NIPR scribe

A former Secretary of the Kaduna State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Ahmed Sa’id, has urged journalists to prioritise responsible reporting and fact-checking to ensure peaceful conduct of the 2027 general elections.

Sa’id said the media had a critical role to play in preventing electoral violence by countering misinformation, promoting national unity and ensuring that truth prevailed over falsehood before, during and after the elections.

He spoke with AREWA PUNCH in Niger State on the sidekine of a public presentation of his book, Aren’t We All PR People? A Frank Guide for Beginners and Practitioners, organised by the Niger State chapter of the NIPR.

He stressed that while credible and transparent elections were important, peaceful conduct of the exercise should also be a major priority for journalists and other stakeholders.

“First of all, I think the media can ensure that the election is peaceful. To me, we want elections to be credible, we want them to be transparent, but more importantly, we want them to be peaceful.

“We understand that there are tensions here and there. There are contemplations of violence, and people are anticipating it. We also understand how wrong information or misinformation can trigger these potential crises,” he said.

The former NIPR official urged journalists to put national interest above partisan considerations, noting that Nigeria’s survival and unity should take precedence over individual politicians and electoral contests.

“Nigeria should outlast any leader and any election, so Nigeria should come first. Our corporate entity, our sovereignty, our nationality and the peaceful conduct of elections before, during and after the exercise should preoccupy the minds of Nigerian journalists,” he added.

Sa’id called for fact-checking and socially responsible journalism, warning against the publication of reports capable of triggering violence.

He said, “As forebears or guardians of societal conscience, we have a responsibility to be the vanguard for which peace is maintained before, during and after the election.

“My call to the journalist community is to ensure vigilance, identify where troublemakers are and put them in their place through our reporting, ensuring that truth prevails over falsehood and credibility prevails over misinformation.”

On professional development, Sa’id urged public relations practitioners to identify with the NIPR, fulfil its prescribed professional requirements, undergo the necessary induction and obtain appropriate licences to practise.

He said professional regulation was essential to maintaining standards, promoting ethical conduct and sustaining public confidence in the public relations industry.

Explaining the motivation behind his book, Sa’id said it was designed to broaden public understanding of public relations and correct the misconception that the profession was restricted to publicity, image management and media relations.

He described public relations as a strategic discipline built on truth, courage, ethical responsibility and effective relationship management, urging practitioners to demonstrate integrity and communicate truthfully, even in difficult circumstances.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Niger State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Dr Abu Nmodu, called for stronger collaboration between the NIPR and NUJ to promote professional standards and address emerging challenges in the communication industry.

Nmodu said the two professions operated in closely related areas, particularly information gathering, processing, management and dissemination.

He advocated regular engagements, knowledge sharing and joint initiatives to strengthen professional capacity and promote a more credible communication environment.

Similarly, the Director of Public Relations at the Nigerian Hydropower Producing Areas Development Commission, Malam Nura Wakili, called for greater attention to professional reputation management.

Wakili described reputation as a critical asset for individuals, organisations and institutions, requiring deliberate management, strategic communication and sustained professional commitment.

He cautioned against reducing reputation management to publicity and occasional image-building exercises, saying it should be treated as a continuous responsibility anchored on credibility, consistency, ethical conduct and effective stakeholder engagement. ENDS..