By Juliet Umeh
Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Special Duties, Chief Tunde Rahman, has warned politicians hoping to contest the 2027 general election that social media popularity cannot substitute for serious political organisation and nationwide mobilisation.
Rahman, who spoke at the All Nigeria Editors Conference, ANEC, said winning a national election required more than maintaining a strong presence on social media, arguing that politicians must demonstrate the capacity to organise and field candidates across the country.
Rahman said: “We now have politicians who only prepare to contest elections on social media, not by campaigning to the people.
“Elections call for serious preparation. You cannot want to win a national election when you cannot even produce candidates across the country.”
Speaking on the theme, “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” Rahman said the media had a critical responsibility to ensure balanced coverage as political activities intensify ahead of 2027.
“These times are critical. We are preparing for a most consequential election. So, we must ensure a balance of media space.
If you allow the opposition to speak, as you have done with Mr Peter Obi, the government too must speak,” Rahman said.
Rahman described the ballot and the newsroom as critical institutions in sustaining democratic rule.
“Democracy lives in three places: the ballot, the barracks and the newsroom. The soldiers have returned to the barracks. What is left is the ballot and the newsroom. If either fails, democracy fails.”
According to him, “The ballot is the only thing that makes a market woman equal to a billionaire. For four hours on election day, they have the same power.
“Our job, as political actors and as government, is to protect that power – to ensure that votes count, that BVAS works and that INEC remains independent.”
Rahman also warned editors about the growing danger posed by Artificial Intelligence, AI, fake news and deepfakes to electoral credibility.
“In this age of AI, fake news and deepfakes, your task has become harder. Anyone can sit on WhatsApp and announce a fake election result. Only you can debunk it with credibility.”
He urged journalists not to allow the competition for online engagement to undermine professional standards.
“Let us punish lies with facts. Let us punish propaganda with professionalism. Let us not let clicks kill credibility,” he said.
Rahman added: “The media should not be pro-APC or pro-LP or pro-PDP. It should be pro-Nigeria, pro-ballot, pro-people.
“If the ballot is free and the media is fair, democracy will not just survive in Nigeria, it will thrive.”
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