Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, on Wednesday, said that elections are won when voters trust the outcome of the exercise.
As the Keynote Speaker at the 2025 All Nigerian Editors Conference, holding in Abuja, Uzodimma, who is also the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, said: ‘The reality heading into 2027 is that elections are won and lost not only on policies or candidates but on whether voters believe the outcome will be legitimate.
‘That belief is shaped by whether they have been hearing fragmented, tribal narratives or cohesive, nation-building ones. And that is an editorial choice you make daily’, as he charged journalists, especially editors, to always abide by the code of ethics of their profession.
He saluted the efforts of Nigerian editors over time, saying they had accomplished much that deserves recognition.
Commending the media, the governor cited instances where the practitioners had used their newsrooms to produce investigative journalists who exposed corruption.
‘You have published reports that held power accountable. Through your coverage, you have amplified marginalised voices.
‘These contributions matter, and they are essential to democracy. But what is often missing is journalism that actively builds cohesion, not just reports on its absence.
‘There is a difference between neutrally documenting division and actively choosing narratives that remind Nigerians of shared values, shared stakes, and a shared future.
‘You report on ethnic tension, regional disparities, and religious conflict; as you should. But how often do your editorial choices highlight what binds us rather than what divides us?
‘None of this requires abandoning your watchdog function. You can hold the government accountable and avoid framing every accountability story as evidence of irredeemable dysfunction. You can report electoral irregularities and avoid suggesting that the entire system is corrupt. You can cover political competition and remind citizens that competitors will govern the same country afterwards’.
He also called on editors to be active catalysts of the cohesion that democracy requires to function ahead of the 2027 general elections.
On the theme of the conference, “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors”, and its sub-theme: “Electoral Integrity and Trust: What Nigerians Expect in 2027”, he said that portrayed the media as accepting ‘to be held accountable for “democratic governance and national cohesion”; hence, you added the rider, “the role of editors”. But you cleverly avoided that rider in the sub-theme, “electoral integrity and trust deficit, what Nigerians expect in 2027”. That was very smart. But I have news for you. I will not let you escape accountability for electoral integrity, trust deficit, and what Nigerians expect in 2027.
‘Here is why. If you have a role to play in “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion”, then you also have a role to play in “Electoral Integrity and Trust Deficit”. Without electoral integrity, there can be no democracy. Electoral integrity begets democracy, and democracy begets good governance, and good governance fast-tracks the exorcism of trust deficit. In all of these, your role as facilitator, amplifier, or catalyst is key. Your reports and comments paint a picture of tomorrow. Therefore, the picture you paint of 2027 is what Nigerians should expect.
‘So I hold it to be true that as editors, you should be held accountable for both the theme and the sub-theme. And since you asked me to speak on the theme and the sub-theme, I have used the privilege you conferred on me as the keynote speaker to come up with a hybrid lecture topic: So, for my keynote, the topic is “2027: Editors as Catalyst of Democracy, National Cohesion and Electoral Integrity”. I do not doubt that you will agree with me that, in the context of this conference, there can be no better description of your role as editors. As I proceed with my speech, you will find more reasons to agree with my position. To start with, let me say that editors are very powerful influencers of society because you wield the most powerful weapon on earth: the Pen”!
The weighty words of the celebrated English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton in his 1839 play Cardinal Richelieu, to wit, “the pen is mightier than the sword”, say it all. It was a metonymic statement. The significance is that the pen can change and shape society faster and more permanently than the sword. The pen represents intellect, written ideas, and diplomacy, while the sword represents physical violence and military might. And that powerful instrument, the pen, is your symbol of trade and work tool. As a matter of fact, it is proudly displayed on your logo’.
