Ojumu Launches Book on Nigeria’s Election Journalists

Ojumu Launches Book on Nigeria’s Election Journalists

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

A new book offering rare insight into the work, challenges and sacrifices of Nigeria’s election correspondents will be formally launched on Friday, December 5, 2025, in Abuja.

Authored by media consultant and Chairman of the INEC Press Corps, Segun Ojumu, the book titled The INEC Press Corps: Chronicles of Nigeria’s Election Journalists documents the experiences of reporters who cover Nigeria’s elections from the frontline; often under pressure, in difficult terrains and sometimes at personal risk.

The launch will take place at The Electoral Institute, the research and training arm of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Coming just after the Anambra governorship election and ahead of major polls in 2026, the FCT Area Council elections in February, and the Ekiti and Osun off-cycle governorship elections later in the year, the publication is seen as a timely intervention in Nigeria’s democratic space.

In a statement on Saturday, Ojumu said the work fills a longstanding gap in election literature.

“This book is a necessary shift in focus. For too long, the spotlight has been only on the umpire and the politicians. This book finally tells the story of the frontline correspondents, those who ensure electoral outcomes are transparent and verifiable, often at great personal risk,” he explained.

He added that the text rests on two major pillars; ensuring transparency and building public trust. According to him, election journalists serve as the public’s “eyes and ears,” offering factual reporting that helps counter misinformation and gives credibility to the electoral process.

“The core of our democracy is trust. Our work as journalists is fundamental to legitimizing election results. Unbiased media presence is the public’s primary tool for filtering misinformation and strengthening faith in the ballot box,” Ojumu noted.

The launch is expected to draw a wide range of key stakeholders. Those billed to attend include the Secretary of the Commission, Dr. (Mrs.) Rose Anthony Orianran; several INEC National Commissioners; and the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Aminu Idris.

Also expected are leaders from political and civil society groups, including Yusuf Dantalle, Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC); Blessing Akinlosotu, Executive Secretary of the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN); Jake Epelle, Founder of TAF Africa; Dickson Akoh, National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria; and Isah Ismaila, Special Adviser on Media to the Kogi State Governor.

The book is projected to serve as an essential resource for researchers, policymakers, journalists and political actors seeking deeper understanding of election reporting and its influence on Nigeria’s democratic development.