The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Channels Media Group, Dr John Momoh, has urged political parties and their leaders to avoid statements capable of fuelling ethnic and religious divisions ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Momoh made the call on Thursday while delivering a keynote address titled ‘Narratives That Build Nations in Diversity, Public Relations Leadership and the Future of Nigeria’ at the 38th Dr Sam Epelle Gold Paper Lecture in Yola, Adamawa State.
The event also featured the unveiling of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri as Patron of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
Momoh noted that the political atmosphere was becoming increasingly charged as parties formed alliances, candidates promoted their ambitions and supporters mobilised ahead of the elections.
“Our politics is charged. The 2027 general elections are approaching, and the competition for power is already shaping public conversation. Political parties are building alliances, candidates are making claims, supporters are mobilising, and citizens are deciding whom they believe,” he said.
He stressed that although democracy required robust debate, scrutiny and disagreement, political competition should not lead to hostility or the dehumanisation of opponents.
“Democracy needs vigorous debate. It needs disagreement, scrutiny and the freedom to challenge those who govern. But disagreement should not become permission to dehumanise. Political opponents are not enemies of the nation,” he said.
The media executive added that critics should not automatically be labelled traitors, while political supporters should remain committed to truth and responsible public discourse.
He warned that inflammatory statements, false allegations and manipulated content could intensify tensions before the facts were established.
“A false allegation can travel through a community before the person accused has a chance to respond. A divisive appeal to ethnicity or religion can turn a neighbour into a suspect. And a manipulated video or an invented quotation can harden opinions before the facts are known,” Momoh said.
He emphasised the responsibility of political leaders and other influential public figures to promote peaceful engagement, noting that their words could either calm tensions or worsen divisions.
According to him, leaders should reject language capable of encouraging violence, correct false claims circulated by their supporters and remind Nigerians that political contests must not undermine national unity.
“They can reject language that invites violence, correct claims made by their own supporters, and remind people that the contest for office must not destroy the country we all share,” he added.
Addressing economic communication, Momoh said the credibility of any account of the country’s economic progress depended on whether citizens could see tangible improvements in their daily lives.
He said public narratives about economic performance needed to reflect the realities experienced by Nigerians rather than rely solely on claims of progress.
