An unprecedented insider account documenting the experiences and sacrifices of Nigeria’s election correspondents will be publicly launched on Friday, 5 December 2025, in Abuja.
The book, titled “The INEC Press Corps: Chronicles of Nigeria’s Election Journalists,” is authored by Segun Ojumu, media consultant and Chairman of the INEC Press Corps.
The book offers a unique perspective on the nation’s electoral process from the media’s frontline.
The official presentation will take place at The Electoral Institute, a facility owned by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The timing of the launch is considered highly strategic, arriving just after the conclusion of the Anambra State Governorship election and ahead of a critical series of polls scheduled for 2026. These include the FCT Area Council elections on Saturday, February 21, 2026, followed by the pivotal off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States later in the year.
The book moves the narrative focus away from political actors and the electoral body itself to spotlight the journalists who serve as the critical link between the Commission, the electorate, and the political parties.
The author, Segun Ojumu explained the rationale behind the publication: “This book is a necessary shift in focus. For too long, the spotlight has been only on the umpire and the politicians.
Chronicles of Nigeria’s Election Journalists finally tells the story of the frontline correspondents—those who ensure electoral outcomes are transparent and verifiable, often at great personal risk.”
The text is structured around the dual pillars of Ensuring Transparency and Building Public Trust, documenting how rigorous media coverage acts as the public’s eyes and ears against malpractice. “The core of our democracy is trust,” Mr. Ojumu added.
“Our work as journalists is fundamental to legitimising election results. This text argues that unbiased media presence is the public’s primary tool for filtering misinformation and strengthening faith in the ballot box. It is, in essence, a roadmap for building a more accountable electoral future for Nigeria.”
The launch is expected to be a significant gathering of key stakeholders in Nigeria’s democratic and civil society landscape. Dignitaries expected to attend include the Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Mrs. Rose Anthony Orianran, National Commissioners of INEC, and the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Aminu Idris.
Other major participants will include political and civil society leaders such as 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; and Dickson Akoh, National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria. Isah Ismaila, the Special Adviser on Media to the Kogi State Governor, is also scheduled to participate.
The book is set to serve as an essential resource for academics, political actors, and media professionals seeking to understand the challenges and contributions of election reporting in West Africa.
