Editors and Political Don Clash Over Fake News, Money Politics, and Why President Must Stop Appointing INEC Boss

As political actors quietly begin lining up strategies for the 2027 general elections, media executives and political scientists have warned that Nigeria’s democracy will remain vulnerable unless three key players—the press, the electoral umpire, and voters—drastically change how they operate.

The urgent call for structural reform dominated the 4th Annual Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture, organized in Lagos by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) to honor the legacy of veteran journalist and former Lagos State Governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.

Delivering the keynote address, Lagos State University (LASU) Professor of Political Science, Sylvester Akhaine, offered a sober assessment of the nation’s democratic journey. He noted that none of the seven general elections conducted since the return to civil rule in 1999 can be celebrated as completely free, fair, and credible.

Analyzing the roots of the electoral deficit, Akhaine pointed to “state capture,” highly monetized vote-buying, and leadership recruitment rooted in mediocrity rather than competence. He warned that this persistent failure has created a dangerous trust deficit, leaving millions of disillusioned citizens completely disengaged from the democratic process.

To break the cycle before the next general election, the political scientist urged the Federal Government to revisit and fully implement the landmark recommendations of the Justice Mohammed Uwais Electoral Reform Committee. Chief among those reforms is stripping the sitting President of the power to nominate and appoint the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)—a move designed to shield the electoral body from executive influence.

“For credible elections to take place in 2027, the media, INEC, and voters all have vital roles to play,” Professor Sylvester Akhaine emphasized. “INEC must maximize its technological tools and financial autonomy to regain public trust. To achieve true institutional independence, we must adopt the Uwais Committee’s recommendation to remove the President’s power to appoint INEC leadership and hand that responsibility to an independent framework.”

Addressing the media’s role, speakers at the memorial lecture cautioned editors and reporters against falling prey to digital manipulation, AI-generated disinformation, and coordinated social media bot campaigns designed to mislead the public.

Reiterating the constitutional mandate of the press under Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, the Nigerian Guild of Editors urged journalists across the country to maintain strict editorial independence, verify facts rigorously, and serve as an unyielding watchdog holding both politicians and electoral officials accountable. The assembly concluded that only an informed electorate, empowered by an honest press and a transparent electoral system, can safeguard Nigeria’s democratic future.