Theme:

“Electoral Integrity in an AI Era: The Role of Responsible Media and Culture in Safeguarding Democracy”

NEED: Background

As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 General Elections, stakeholders have expressed growing concern over the increasing threat posed by the misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to electoral integrity. The proliferation of AI-generated misinformation, disinformation, deepfakes, and other forms of manipulated content has the potential to distort facts, mislead voters, erode public trust, and undermine the credibility of the electoral process.

In response to these emerging challenges, the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) convened the SAFE DEMOCRACY Summit under the theme: “Electoral Integrity in an AI Era: The Role of Responsible Media and Culture in Safeguarding Democracy.”

The keynote address was delivered by Professor Rotimi Olatunji, President of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria and Professor of Public Relations and Advertising at Lagos State University (LASU).

The summit also featured an engaging panel discussion with Comrade Debo Adeniran, President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR); Pastor Kayode Jacobs; and Barr. Princewill Akpakpan as panelists, while Adenike O. Ajiboye, News Manager, Superscreen TV, ably moderated the session.

The summit provided a platform for robust dialogue on promoting responsible media practice, the ethical application of Artificial Intelligence, fact-based communication, and the vital role of culture in safeguarding democratic values and ensuring free, fair, and credible elections.

Summit Resolutions

Following extensive deliberations, participants unanimously resolved to:

1. Reaffirm the principles of ethical journalism as indispensable to electoral integrity, democratic governance, and the preservation of public trust.
2. Strengthen editorial gatekeeping and newsroom verification mechanisms to effectively detect and counter misinformation, disinformation, and AI-generated manipulated content.
3. Institutionalize dedicated fact-checking units within media organizations and foster strategic partnerships with credible fact-checking organizations to enhance information integrity.
4. Promote responsible, accurate, and conflict-sensitive reporting that safeguards electoral integrity and contributes to peaceful, credible, and inclusive electoral processes.
5. Enhance the capacity of journalists and media professionals through continuous training in Artificial Intelligence, digital literacy, media forensics, and emerging verification technologies.
6. Reject and discourage hate speech, inflammatory rhetoric, ethnic or religious profiling, and all forms of irresponsible reporting capable of inciting violence or undermining national cohesion.
7. Uphold the principle of accuracy over speed by ensuring that all reports are rigorously verified through credible, authoritative, and multiple sources before publication or broadcast.
8. Strengthen collaboration among media organizations, electoral bodies, government institutions, civil society organizations, technology platforms, and professional associations to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s information ecosystem.
9. Promote issue-based, people-centered, and development-focused election reporting that empowers citizens with factual information for informed democratic participation.
10. Advocate the development of balanced legal and regulatory frameworks that protect press freedom, encourage the ethical deployment of Artificial Intelligence, and promote accountability within the digital information space.
11. Recognize the critical role of Nigeria’s cultural institutions and creative industries in promoting peace, tolerance, national unity, and democratic values before, during, and after elections.

Credit: Comrade Francis Izang, PRO, Contributing editor, Comrade Amos Oge Kalu, Media Officer.