Susan Abayomi
The Public Affairs Correspondents Association of Nigeria (PACAN) has called on political parties and candidates preparing for the 2027 general elections to make policies, programmes and practical solutions the focus of their campaigns.
The association made the call in a statement signed by its President, Idris Tele-Olukoya, and General Secretary, Adekunle Okunade, in Lagos on Friday.
PACAN urged political actors to present clear manifestos and explain how their proposed policies would address some of the major challenges facing Nigerians, including insecurity, unemployment, education, healthcare, infrastructure and economic development.
The association cautioned candidates and their supporters against turning political campaigns into platforms for insults, name-calling, character assassination and unsubstantiated allegations.
According to PACAN, excessive personal attacks and inflammatory rhetoric could shift public attention away from substantive issues and weaken the quality of political debate.
The group also appealed to political parties and their supporters not to recruit or use young people for political violence, stressing that youths should participate in the democratic process through legitimate and constructive means.
PACAN further urged political actors to avoid hate speech, ethnic and religious provocation, misinformation and other forms of communication capable of heightening tension among citizens.
It said political disagreements were an inevitable part of democratic competition but should be addressed through constructive debates, policy comparisons and respectful engagement.
The association also placed responsibility on the media to promote informed political participation by giving adequate attention to manifestos, policy proposals and the records of candidates, while subjecting questionable claims to verification.
PACAN called on journalists covering the 2027 elections to maintain professionalism, accuracy and balance in their reporting, stressing that political journalism should help citizens understand the issues and choices before them.
The association urged political parties, candidates, supporters and other stakeholders to respect electoral laws and guidelines and work towards peaceful electioneering.
It said the 2027 elections should provide an opportunity for political competition to be centred on ideas, solutions and service to the people rather than violence, hate speech and personal attacks.
