Punish lies with facts, propaganda with professionalism, Rahman tells editors

Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Special Duties, Tunde Rahman, has urged the media to uphold professionalism, credibility and balance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Rahman made the call while speaking on the theme, “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” at an event organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

He commended the NGE for providing space for both government and opposition voices, noting that while opposition figures such as the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, should be given space to speak, the government should also have the opportunity to respond.

Rahman said democracy depended on the ballot and the newsroom, arguing that the media had a crucial role to play in ensuring that voters were properly informed. He added that editors were not merely reporting politics but were also contributing to the survival of democracy by verifying facts and giving government and opposition equal opportunity to be scrutinised.

He noted that the rise of artificial intelligence, fake news and deepfakes had made the media’s task more difficult, as false election results and other misinformation could easily be circulated on social media. He urged journalists to use their credibility to verify and debunk such claims.

On the 2027 elections, Rahman said political parties and politicians needed to prepare seriously for elections rather than relying solely on social media. He argued that parties seeking to win national elections should have candidates and structures across the country.

Speaking on behalf of the Presidential Villa, Rahman said the Tinubu administration had introduced reforms which he claimed had stabilised the economy. He cited the stability of the naira, seven consecutive quarters of GDP growth, increased foreign reserves and a reduction in food inflation as indicators of progress.

Rahman called on the media to remain focused on Nigeria and the electorate rather than political parties, saying, “Let us punish lies with facts, punish propaganda with professionalism, and not let clicks kill credibility”.

Rahman became a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in 2012, two years after he was appointed first as Editor of ThisDay on Saturday and later as Editor of ThisDay on Sunday.