As preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, stakeholders at the Ogun State Progressive New Media Summit have called for more ethical, strategic and professional use of social media by political communicators and other digital media practitioners.
A communication consultant, Bolaji Adeniji, made the call on Thursday at the summit held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, which brought together political communicators, legal practitioners, journalists, content creators and social media influencers.
The summit was themed, “Defending the Truth, Advancing Renewed Hope, and Shaping the Future of Progress for Ogun State with Senator Yayi.”
In his keynote address titled “New Media Imperatives for the 2027 General Elections,” Adeniji said the summit was convened to recalibrate Ogun State’s new media ecosystem through collaboration, ethical engagement, capacity building and value-driven communication.
He said the summit, described as the first of its kind in the state, was aimed at building a stronger and more coordinated online presence capable of improving public perception, promoting political brands and facilitating effective communication between leaders and the electorate.
Adeniji said the proposed new media architecture should move beyond mere online engagement to the meaningful conversion of public support through structured communication strategies.
“The goal is to remove the existing shortcomings in our digital engagement and establish a system that creates stronger online visibility, promotes our core values and ensures effective communication between political brands and the public,” he said.
He stressed that political principals, as the brands in the proposed communication model, must provide adequate motivation, financial support and real-time accessibility to enable media teams to function effectively.
Adeniji also challenged new media practitioners to continually improve their skills through digital literacy, creativity and the adoption of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence-driven storytelling.
According to him, audience-focused content remains the foundation of successful digital communication.
“Content is king. Every content creator must first understand the audience, identify what they need and communicate information that is both credible and valuable,” he said.
A legal practitioner, Adebayo Adekoya, warned social media users against the indiscriminate publication of false or defamatory information, noting that such actions could attract criminal prosecution under existing laws.
He advised content creators and social media users to ensure they had verifiable evidence before publishing allegations against individuals.
Adekoya said both the original publishers and those who shared or republished defamatory content could be held liable under the law.
He urged Nigerians to desist from using social media for blackmail, fake news and character assassination.
Using President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as an example, Adekoya noted that although the President had publicly stated that he no longer paid attention to social media because of persistent insults directed at him, other public figures might not hesitate to institute legal action against individuals responsible for defamatory publications.
Former Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Adijat Oladapo-Adeleye, urged political office holders to embrace social media as a continuous governance tool rather than restricting its use to election campaigns.
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She said government activities and achievements should be consistently communicated through digital platforms to keep citizens informed.
Oladapo-Adeleye also challenged new media handlers to become pace-setters in information dissemination by breaking stories promptly instead of waiting for conventional media organisations to report events first.
The Publisher of Gateway Times, Dayo Rufai, urged social media influencers to use their various digital platforms to project the achievements of government.
Rufai said government communication was evolving and called for greater utilisation of different online platforms to effectively communicate government policies, programmes and developmental initiatives to citizens.
Earlier in his welcome address, the convener of the summit and Special Assistant on New Media to Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, Omooba Damilare Oloyede, described the gathering as a strategic platform for uniting progressive digital communicators across Ogun State.
He said the summit was designed to connect, inspire and influence participants while equipping them with skills to combat misinformation and effectively communicate the achievements of progressive governments.
Oloyede described Ogun State as one of Nigeria’s leading states in political social media engagement and urged participants to move beyond routine online posting to strategic influence capable of countering falsehood with facts and promoting verifiable government achievements.
He also called for unity among members of the All Progressives Congress, saying the period of internal divisions was over.
According to him, party supporters should work together to advance the Renewed Hope agenda of President Tinubu, protect the legacy of Governor Dapo Abiodun and mobilise support for Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as YAYI, ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State.
He reaffirmed the need for ethical conduct, professionalism, collaboration and continuous capacity building as essential tools for strengthening political communication and promoting responsible use of new media in Nigeria’s democratic process.