Olisa Agbakoba urges Nigerian media to test election reporting rights

Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, has called on the Nigerian media to seek judicial clarification regarding their constitutional right to obtain and disseminate information during elections. Speaking at the 10th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Lagos, Agbakoba highlighted a potential conflict between the Electoral Act, which grants the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the authority to announce results, and Section 39 of the Constitution, which protects the press's right to information.

Agbakoba, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, suggested that the media should test these rights in court, drawing parallels to legal actions taken by American media organizations regarding White House access. He argued that the media should be able to report election-related information, including exit polls, within legal limits to ensure transparency.

The conference, themed ‘2027 Elections: Trust, Transparency, and Shared Responsibilities,’ also addressed the socio-economic climate. Agbakoba noted that economic hardship and the rising cost of essential medicines are likely to be significant factors in the upcoming 2027 general elections.