The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening security and ensuring access to accurate information ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the 8th Annual Lecture and Awards organised by Blueprint Newspaper, which focused on “Security Challenges and the Credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 Elections.”
Idris said credible elections could not be guaranteed on election day alone, stressing that security conditions, institutional integrity, political conduct, media professionalism and the quality of information available to citizens all contribute to the credibility of the electoral process.
He said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would continue to deploy the necessary resources, personnel and technology to address terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats affecting Nigerians.
The minister also identified the spread of misinformation and deliberately false information as emerging threats to democratic processes, particularly with the rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies capable of producing convincing but fabricated audio, video and images.
According to Idris, democracy cannot thrive where citizens are deliberately misled. He said the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, in collaboration with UNESCO and other stakeholders, established the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI) in Abuja to strengthen media and information literacy.
The minister also called for continued stakeholder engagement on issues affecting Nigeria’s electoral process, while commending Blueprint Newspaper for providing a platform for policymakers, academics, media professionals and other stakeholders to discuss national issues.
Speaking at the event, former Zamfara State Governor and Senator representing Zamfara West, Abdul’Aziz Yari Abubakar, said security should not be regarded as the sole responsibility of security agencies.
Yari called for greater involvement of political leaders, communities, citizens and other stakeholders in addressing insecurity, warning against politicising the country’s security challenges.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), represented at the event by Major General O.T. Akinjobi, said the changing security environment required an expanded approach to election security ahead of 2027.
Musa said election security should go beyond protecting polling units and electoral materials, noting that emerging threats include cyber interference, misinformation, deliberate disinformation and attempts to undermine public confidence in democratic institutions.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Blueprint Newspaper, Salisu Umar, said the annual lecture was introduced in 2018 to provide a platform for discussions on national issues beyond conventional journalism and to recognise Nigerians who have demonstrated leadership and positive impact.
The event was attended by several public officials, including Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu, Cross River State Governor Bassey Edet Otu, Enugu State Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, who were represented by officials.
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Politics