Eniola Yekini
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ekiti State Council, Kayode Babatuyi, has called for unbiased enforcement of media laws to curb fake news ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Babatuyi said anyone found guilty of spreading false information, whether in government or opposition, should be held accountable in accordance with the law, irrespective of political affiliation.
He warned that selective enforcement could erode public confidence in the justice system and encourage the weaponisation of fake news for political gains.
The NUJ chairman spoke while delivering a lecture at a public lecture and award ceremony organised by Southwest Heralds magazine at the Ondo State Property Development Corporation Event Centre, Ondo State.
The lecture was titled, “The Implications and Effects of Fake News in Influencing the Choice of Electorates in a Democracy: 2027 Election, a Focus.”
Babatuyi said the information available to individuals shapes their decisions, warning that voters exposed to false information could make choices that do not reflect their genuine interests.
“When you give information, it guides the decision of an individual. When you have access to accurate information, you do things that are accurate. But when you have access to fake information, you also do things that are not correct because whatever you are doing is based on the information that you have,” he said.
He noted that fake news could influence voters’ perceptions of political parties and candidates, thereby altering electoral outcomes.
Babatuyi urged the government to establish a dedicated department to monitor fake news and provide credible information to counter false narratives, to help citizens make informed electoral decisions.
He stressed that efforts to combat fake news must not be used to suppress dissent or target political opponents, insisting that the law should apply equally to public officials and opposition figures.
“It doesn’t mean that government or authorities have immunity to using fake news. So, fake news, whether it’s coming from an authority or whether it’s coming from an opposition, fake news is fake news, and whosoever is responsible for that should actually face the law,” he said.
The NUJ chairman also urged Nigerians to be cautious when consuming and sharing information on social media, particularly political messages circulated via WhatsApp and other platforms, and to verify information before sharing.
He called on citizens to sustain confidence in traditional media for verified information and said tackling fake news ahead of 2027 requires collective responsibility of government, media organisations and citizens.