2027: Kano, Kaduna Governors Warn Against Hate Speech, Fake News

The governors of Kano and Kaduna states have urged journalists to promote responsible reporting, curb hate speech and combat misinformation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

They warned that personality attacks, divisive political narratives and unverified reports could undermine democratic institutions and erode public confidence in the electoral process.

The governors spoke through their representatives at the launch of Digital Shift in Nigeria’s Newspaper Industry, a book authored by the Group News Editor of LEADERSHIP Newspapers, Dr Sunday Isuwa, in Abuja on Thursday.

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, expressed concern over the growing use of hate speech and personal attacks in political campaigns.

He said such practices were unhealthy for democracy, stressing that political competition should focus on issues rather than personal attacks against opponents.

“What we are seeing is not really healthy to our democracy, particularly the practices of hate speech that we are witnessing and turning politics into personality attacks,” Yusuf said.

Similarly, Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, urged journalists to verify information thoroughly and ensure their reports contribute meaningfully to democratic development.

Sani, represented by the state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki, said journalists must go beyond reporting campaign activities to investigate claims, establish facts and consider the implications of their reports for national stability.

“In these elections, we must look beyond just reporting events, look very deeply, verify facts, and ensure what we report is contributing to democracy,” he said.

He added, “Campaigns will end. Posters will end. Candidates, of course, some will win, and some will lose. But at the end of the day, what is more important is this corporate entity called Nigeria.”

The Kaduna governor also expressed concern over the impact of technological changes on the newspaper industry, warning that shrinking newsrooms and evolving production processes were putting some media jobs at risk.

He urged journalists to develop multimedia skills and adapt to emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to remain relevant in the changing media landscape.

Earlier, the President of Vision Africa and former Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Privatisation, Archbishop Dr Sunday Onuoha, called on media organisations to establish clear guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in journalism ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Onuoha, who was represented by the Methodist Bishop of Kubwa Diocese, Bishop Frederick Onoja, made the recommendations while presenting a paper at the event.

He urged media organisations to establish dedicated election verification teams before political campaigns intensified.

“Develop newsroom AI policies with written rules governing AI-generated material and AI-assisted journalism,” he said.

He also called for partnerships with credible fact-checking organisations, warning that individual newsrooms could struggle to counter disinformation without collaboration.

Onuoha recommended training political reporters in electoral law, data journalism, digital investigation, AI detection, conflict-sensitive reporting and hate-speech monitoring.

He further advocated a clear separation between advertising and editorial decisions, as well as proper labelling of sponsored political content.

The cleric urged newsrooms to strengthen correction policies, expand reporting in local languages and provide journalists with appropriate safety training for covering volatile electoral environments.

He also proposed establishing misinformation hotlines through which members of the public could submit suspicious claims for verification.

On election coverage, Onuoha urged journalists to prioritise issues affecting citizens rather than the personalities of political candidates.

He identified employment, education, healthcare, security, infrastructure, corruption, poverty, climate change, economic management, and governance as key issues that deserve greater attention during the campaigns.

In his welcome remarks, Isuwa cautioned journalists against allowing the pressure to publish quickly in the digital age to undermine accuracy, ethical standards and public trust.

He identified misinformation, changing business models and declining confidence in the media as major challenges confronting the newspaper industry.

“Digital tools can help journalism reach more people and tell stories in new ways. But technology alone cannot guarantee good journalism,” he said.

“That still depends on ethical practice, careful verification, fairness, and commitment to serving the public.”

Isuwa said the book examined how digital platforms had transformed the production, distribution and consumption of news while highlighting the responsibilities associated with these changes.

He explained that the publication was intended to promote media literacy and encourage journalists to embrace technological developments without abandoning the profession’s fundamental principles.

“We need conversations that help journalists adapt without losing the principles that make their work valuable. We need readers who can engage critically with the news they encounter,” Isuwa said.

Also speaking, the Country Director of the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria and Chairman of the Northern Christian Association, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, said public trust remained essential to the survival of media organisations.

“No matter how much any media organisation makes, when it loses the currency of trust, it is just a matter of time before it will shut down,” he said.

Hayab urged media organisations to protect their credibility, particularly during elections, when misinformation and political divisions could undermine public confidence.

He also called on Nigerians to take greater ownership of the democratic process, arguing that democracy should serve citizens rather than politicians alone.

Citing public attention to election results in Osun State, Hayab noted the importance of citizens’ engagement with the electoral process.

He further urged political parties and politicians to demonstrate greater commitment to national development rather than merely pursuing electoral victories.

Meanwhile, the Founder of Aerokeys Nigeria Limited, Mr Kudla Milinda Haske, called for increased public awareness to encourage Nigerians to participate in elections.

Haske expressed concern that voter participation remained low relative to Nigeria’s population.

“If democracy is truly government of the people, by the people, and for the people, a country of 230 million should at least have about 50 million people participating in the election. But we had less than 20 million,” he said.

He called for stronger public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on the importance of voting and encourage greater participation in the electoral process.

Haske also proposed engaging respected individuals with public credibility to promote peaceful elections and strengthen confidence in democratic participation.

He urged eligible Nigerians to take the 2027 elections seriously, obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate actively in choosing the country’s political leadership.