As political alliances begin to shift and ambitions crystallize ahead of the 2027 General Elections, stakeholders has warned that the media must choose between being a watchdog of democracy or a tool for political convenience.
This was the center message at the Maiden ASKOMP Media Roundtable held on Friday at the NUJ Press Centre, Ilorin.
The event, themed “Kwara 2027: Media, Politics, and Search for Credible Leadership,” brought together political parties, youth organizations, and academic experts to dissect the state’s political future.
In his keynote address, the Chairman of ASKOMP, Comr. Salihu Shola Taofiq, highlighted the shift from physical to digital electioneering.
In his words; “Today, elections are no longer won only at polling units they are contested on timelines, WhatsApp groups, blogs, and TikTok videos. That influence is both a privilege and a burden when the media fails its duty, democracy bleeds.”
He added that the media determines what the public knows, what they believe, and ultimately how they decide, noting that the influence is both a privilege and a burden and history has shown that when the media fails its duty, democracy bleeds.
Speaking at the event, the State Publicity Secretary for APC, Alhaji Babatunde Abdulwaheed who represented the State Chairman emphasized that the party’s choice for the 2027 governorship would be guided by credibility, acceptance, and competence, alongside a strict adherence to the party’s constitution.
He added that the influx of new members like the 2023 Guber candidate, Hakeem Lawal is expected to align with the party’s existing values.
Adding to the discourse, the State Publicity Secretary of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC), Hon Abdulrasheed Gbagba, positioned the party as a “new political culture” focused on accountability and service, urging Kwarans not to trade their futures for short-term gains.
One of the guest Speaker, Dr. Bakare Rafiu, a University Don warned online journalists against allowing personal emotions and sentiments to distort political analysis.
He stressed that objective reporting is the only way to enable citizens to make informed decisions.
Dr. Ibrahim Salawu, Acting Director, KWASU Centre for Politics and Corporate Governance who also delivered a Keynote address as the second guest Speaker urges all intending contestants, stakeholders and parties to rally around a common goal ahead of 2027 noting that failure to do so may lead to Abuja deciding their faiths, if they fail to take action timely.
On his part, Evangelist Stephen Awoyale of YOWICAN called on Kwara’s youth to move beyond social media talk and actively participate by registering and collecting their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
9japarrot reports that the roundtable served as a diverse town hall for various influential groups, including Ilorin Emirate Youth Development Association (IEYDA), National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Kwara Chapter.
Other groups who graced the event are representatives of Centre for Dignity in Governance, Kwara Continuity Group, Kwara Legacy Group, Ekiti-Kwara Youth Navigators, among others.
