The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, has urged journalists in the state to maintain a high level of security consciousness and uphold professional and ethical standards before, during and after the 2027 general elections.
The Union also appealed to politicians, political parties and other stakeholders to conduct clean, peaceful and issue-based campaigns devoid of blackmail, character assassination and cyberbullying.
The resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Union’s monthly Congress held on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at the Abib Olamitoye Hall of the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
The Congress, presided over by the Oyo State NUJ Chairman, Mr Akeem Abas, deliberated on issues concerning the state of the nation, the media landscape and the welfare of media practitioners, with particular attention to the safety and professional conduct of journalists as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Union advised journalists across the state to remain highly security-conscious throughout the electioneering and election periods, stressing that their personal safety must remain a priority while carrying out their constitutional responsibilities.
It specifically warned members against attending press conferences or official engagements organised at undesignated or unofficial venues, noting that such precaution had become necessary to safeguard journalists against potential security risks.
The NUJ further admonished media practitioners to remain professional, objective and non-partisan in the discharge of their duties, urging them to uphold the ethical standards of the profession despite the intensity of political activities expected ahead of the elections.
As part of measures aimed at ensuring the physical safety of journalists, the Congress urged politicians, political parties and their candidates to make use of the NUJ Press Centre for media briefings and press conferences as electioneering activities gather momentum.
The Union also appealed to political actors and stakeholders not to heat up the polity, urging them to embrace campaigns focused on issues affecting the people rather than resorting to blackmail, character assassination and cyberbullying.
Expressing concern over the increasing spread of fake news, misinformation and unverified content, particularly across social media platforms, the Congress called for the effective enforcement of existing cyber laws to check the dissemination of false information capable of causing public panic, social unrest and security breaches.
The NUJ equally urged security agencies to develop and implement robust, strategic and proactive operational measures to address public safety concerns throughout the electioneering and election periods.
In addition, proprietors of media organisations were strongly advised to provide comprehensive insurance coverage for journalists deployed to cover political campaigns and elections, noting that adequate insurance protection would help guarantee the safety and peace of mind of journalists undertaking potentially hazardous election-related assignments.
The communiqué was signed by the Secretary of the NUJ, Oyo State Council, Comrade Temidayo Adu, and was drafted by Comrades Segunfunmi Oyedokun, Olawale Asake and Aminat Busari-Adeleke.
