Ahead of 2027, APC Information Commissioners Resolve to Strengthen Government Communication

Abuja - Commissioners of Information from states controlled by the All Progressives Congress, APC, have resolved to speak with one voice in communicating the policies, programmes and achievements of the Federal Government ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The resolution was reached at a meeting convened by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, with the commissioners in Abuja on Thursday. Twenty commissioners attended the meeting, which focused on addressing communication gaps and improving public understanding of government activities.

Speaking at the meeting, Idris said effective communication remained central to the success of government reforms.
"We must tell the story of this administration clearly, consistently and truthfully," Idris said. "When government communicates well, the people understand better, and when the people understand better, they trust more."
He urged the commissioners to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to ensure that Nigerians at all levels were properly informed about government interventions.

"We cannot allow misinformation to fill the gap where government should be speaking. We must be present, proactive and credible in every space where Nigerians get their information," he said. In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the commissioners emphasised the need for a common messaging framework across federal and state communication structures.

The Chairman of the Progressive Commissioners of Information Forum, PCIF, and Commissioner of Information, Youth, Sport and Culture, Jigawa State, Sagir Musa Ahmed, who read the communiqué, said consistency in messaging would strengthen public engagement.

"We agreed that we must speak with one voice while still respecting the peculiarities of our states," Ahmed said. "A common messaging framework will help us to be consistent, but it will also allow us to adapt the message to our local languages, cultures and community realities."
He said the commissioners also demanded improved access to information on federal government projects, interventions and social programmes.

"We cannot communicate what we do not know. We need timely and accurate information on federal projects and social programmes so that we can explain their impact to our people correctly," he said. Ahmed said the meeting also recognised the growing importance of digital communication in shaping public opinion.

"We must engage more deliberately with social media platforms, local content creators, bloggers and micro-influencers," he said. "That is where many Nigerians, especially young people, get their information."
He added that the commissioners stressed the need to improve media literacy and spokesperson preparation among government officials, alongside adequate resources to support effective communication, particularly at the state level.

"We need better-prepared spokespersons and better-resourced communication structures at the state level. Without that, even the best policies will struggle to be understood," Ahmed said.

On the political environment ahead of the 2027 elections, Ahmed said the commissioners underscored the importance of responsible political communication and peaceful elections.

"We must discourage inflammatory messaging and electoral violence," he said. "Our communication must promote peace, unity and issue-based engagement as we approach 2027."
He said the commissioners expressed support for sustained engagement between the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, the campaign communication structure and state information managers.

"We have resolved to continue these consultations through further meetings ahead of the 2027 general elections," Ahmed said. "This collaboration will not end here."