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By Mabel Ekanem
As Nigeria intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections and seeks to strengthen democratic governance, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Akwa Ibom State, Prof. Anugbum Onuoha, has expressed concern over what he described as the absence of internal democracy in the country’s political parties, warning that the trend poses a challenge to the nation’s democratic development.
Prof. Onuoha made the remarks on Thursday during the first anniversary celebration of Orange Newspaper, held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Uyo.
Speaking on the theme of citizen participation in the electoral process, the REC decried the growing level of voter apathy in Akwa Ibom State and called on media practitioners to play a more active role in mobilising eligible citizens to register and participate in elections.
According to him, the turnout for the ongoing voter registration exercise remains far below expectations despite efforts by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make the process accessible to the public.
He disclosed that only about 164,000 persons had registered during the first and second phases of the exercise, describing the figure as disappointing when compared with the state’s population and its 31 local government areas.
Prof. Onuoha cited recent experiences from some local government areas to illustrate the low level of public interest in voter registration.
“In Udung Uko yesterday, not a single person registered, and in Nsit Ubium, only one person came out to register. I am not happy,” he lamented.
The REC stressed that voter registration remains a critical component of democratic participation and urged journalists and media organisations to intensify public enlightenment campaigns to encourage greater involvement of citizens in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 polls.
He further argued that the credibility of elections depends not only on the conduct of electoral bodies but also on the level of public trust in the process. According to him, transparency, accountability and sustained citizen engagement are essential for restoring confidence in elections and reducing voter apathy.
Prof. Onuoha also expressed concern about what he described as the increasing politicisation of the media, alleging that a significant percentage of journalists have become aligned with political interests, thereby affecting objective reporting.
“Over 70 per cent of journalists are politicised and cannot be objective in their reports,” he alleged.
The remark sparked reactions from participants at the event, including former Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr. Patrick Albert, who challenged the generalisation.
Albert acknowledged that some journalists may have political affiliations or personal interests but maintained that the profession remains largely committed to ethical standards and objective reporting.
He argued that it would be unfair to portray the entire journalism profession as partisan because of the actions of a few practitioners.
The former NUJ chairman also called on INEC to strengthen its partnership with media organisations and journalists across the country, noting that effective voter education and public mobilisation require sustained collaboration between the electoral body and the media.
According to him, a closer working relationship between both institutions would help improve public understanding of electoral processes, combat misinformation and encourage greater participation in elections.
The event, themed “The Print Media, Security and Citizens’ Engagement in the 2027 Polls,” brought together media practitioners, academics, public officials and other stakeholders to discuss the role of the media in promoting electoral integrity, security awareness and civic engagement ahead of the next general elections.
