Journalism, Democratic Consolidation, and the 2027 Elections in Nigeria

Credible elections remain fundamental to democratic consolidation, political legitimacy and national unity in Nigeria. As the country approaches the 2027 general elections, enduring structural challenges - elite domination of the state, prebendal politics, weak institutions and declining public trust, continue to threaten electoral integrity. This paper interrogates the interconnections between politics, national unity and credible elections in Nigeria, with particular emphasis on the role of journalism as a democratic institution. Anchored in Harold Lasswell’s distributive conception of politics, political economy theory and media-democracy frameworks, the study argued that journalism occupies a strategic position in shaping electoral credibility through agenda-setting, political socialisation, investigative scrutiny and accountability enforcement. Adopting a qualitative analytical methodology based on secondary data, the paper demonstrated how regulatory pressures, ownership concentration, funding constraints and digital-era market competition undermine journalism’s capacity to contribute effectively to credible elections. Drawing on Nigeria’s electoral experience from 2015 to 2023, the paper concluded that without a structurally independent, pluralistic and professionally protected media system, the prospects for credible elections in 2027, and by extension national unity, remain fragile.