The Abia State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, declared open the three-day 2026 Media Retreat and Press Week of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Council, in Umuahia on Wednesday morning, November 4, 2026.
Speaking before an audience of over 50 media practitioners gathered around the event’s central theme, “The Future of Journalism in an Era of Disinformation: Preparing Abia Media Practitioners for Democracy and the 2027 Polls,” Kanu sounded the alarm over malicious actors increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence tools to synthesise deceptive media, craft deepfakes, and engineer political propaganda intended to disrupt public peace ahead of the 2027 general elections.
​Addressing the delegates, Prince Okey Kanu warned journalists against allowing themselves to become instruments of digital and political manipulation, explicitly pointing out the dangers of publishing fabricated election results, misleading opinion polls, false political endorsements, and unverified allegations.
He urged media professionals to uphold strict ethics and rigorous fact-checking protocols, challenging correspondents to independently scrutinize government projects rather than relying solely on official press statements. “Where government is doing well, report it. Where there are shortcomings, bring them to public attention.
Where explanations are required, demand them. That is the essence of professional journalism,” Kanu emphasized. ​The warning was complemented by remarks from former Abia State Commissioner for Information and columnist, Pastor Ralph Egbu, who highlighted the expanding trust deficit facing modern media and called on working journalists to lead the frontline battle against quackery while protecting professional integrity.
Furthermore, representing Governor Alex Otti through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Chris Onwuegbu, the state government reaffirmed that the administration views the press as an indispensable partner in societal development rather than an adversary.
While reiterating its commitment to open governance and press freedom, the administration signaled that the state will strictly enforce statutory cybersecurity, data protection, and anti-misinformation laws against individuals or platforms intentionally fanning discord and spreading artificial falsehoods ahead of the upcoming electoral cycle.
