- Makes Case For President's Second Term In 2027
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-chief)
The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Special Duties, Chief Tunde Rahman, has charged Nigerian editors to uphold fairness and credibility in their coverage of the 2027 general elections, warning that democracy itself hangs in the balance if either the ballot or the newsroom fails.
Rahman made the call while delivering a keynote address at the just-concluded 22nd Edition of the All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC) 2026 forum held in Enugu, where he also made a strong case for President Tinubu's re-election. He declared that the administration's "bold reforms" have stabilised the economy and that the next phase would deliver prosperity to Nigerians.
In a speech that blended democratic philosophy with a spirited campaign message, Rahman opened with a striking metaphor, declaring that democracy now lives in only three places — "The Ballot, the Barracks, and the Newsroom."
He said, "The soldiers have returned to the Barracks. What is left is the Ballot and the Newsroom. If either fails, democracy fails," he told the gathering of distinguished editors and media executives.
Admitting that the ballot Is the great equaliser, Mr Rahman described the ballot as "the only thing that makes a market woman equal to a billionaire," adding that for four hours on election day, both citizens wield 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," he said.
Rahman, however, quickly added that the ballot alone is insufficient, noting that elections can produce the wrong outcome "if the people are not informed" — a responsibility he placed squarely on the shoulders of editors.
"You are not just reporting politics; you are keeping democracy alive. When you verify a fact, you keep democracy alive. When you give opposition and government equal space to be interrogated, you keep democracy alive," Rahman said.
While acknowledges President Tinubu's major formidable political opponent, Mr Peter Obi's platform, Rahman seeks a level playing field for all contestants and their political platforms.
And in a moment of candour that drew attention, the presidential aide acknowledged the Guild's recent platform granted to the National Democratic Congress, NDC presidential candidate—Mr. Peter Obi, and used it to demand equal treatment for the government.
"I commend the Nigerian Guild of Editors for giving me this opportunity. Because these times are critical, we are preparing for a most consequential election next January and February. So we must ensure balance of media space. If you allow the opposition to speak as you have done with the NDC Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, the government too must speak," he said.
Rahman warned that the rise of Artificial Intelligence, fake news, and deepfakes has made the editors' task harder than ever. "Anyone can sit on WhatsApp and announce a fake election result. Only you can debunk it with credibility," he said.
He also took a swipe at politicians who prepare for elections only on social media, saying: "Elections call for serious preparation. You cannot want to win a national election when you cannot even produce candidates across the country."
The presidential aide urged the media to remain non-partisan, saying: "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."
Shifting to the economic scorecard of the administration, Rahman said President Tinubu "has done the hard part," inheriting an economy he described as being "on life support." He reeled out what he called the emerging gains of the administration's reforms: "The Naira has stabilised. Our GDP has grown for seven consecutive quarters. Our foreign reserves are at their highest in five years. Food inflation is coming down — now around 15.3 per cent in August this year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics."
Acknowledging that these were macroeconomic indicators, he argued they remain crucial. "Without macroeconomic stability, you cannot even think of any impactful micro. Without a stable foundation, you cannot build the house."
Rahman equally disclosed that the administration's next focus is the microeconomy, pointing to the recent reduction in interest rates by the Central Bank of Nigeria as the beginning of relief.
"For us, the next phase is the micro. It has already started. The CBN has just reduced interest rates. More relief will come as we move along," he said.
Rahman's closing remarks were unmistakably a pitch for the President's re-election. "That is why we say: Let us allow President Tinubu to complete the work by electing him for another four years. The reforms are done. Prosperity is next," he declared.
He ended with a three-point plea to the editors: "Let us punish lies with facts. Let us punish propaganda with professionalism. Let us not let clicks kill credibility."
The speech instantly sparked conversations in the conference auditorium and in the media and political circles, with analysts noting its dual purpose — a philosophical appeal for press freedom and fairness, wrapped around a clear political campaign for the ruling party ahead of the 2027 polls.
Whether the editors heed the call to be "pro-Nigeria" above party affiliations — and how that is defined — remains a question that will shape the battle for the nation's narrative in the months ahead. NNL.
