La’aro questions media role in 2027 power play
By Mustafa Abubakar
A Senior Lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, University of Ilorin, Dr Oba Abdulkadir La’aro, has warned that the absence of a credible “third force” could deepen public fatigue ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Dr La’aro disclosed this last Wednesday (April 8, 2026) while addressing the topic “Politics, Media and 2027 General Election,” on a Kwara Television current affairs programme, “Politics and Power.”
The communication expert, who is also a member of the Editorial Board of UNILORIN Bulletin, said the primary responsibility of the press remains the timely provision of information, stressing that citizens must be promptly informed of events to enable them make proper decisions.
He explained that this function, often described as the surveillance role, requires the media to report occurrences as they happen without necessarily engaging in elaborate interpretation at the initial stage.
Dr La’aro added that the media also performs watchdog and interpretative roles by serving as a platform for diverse opinions, including those of experts and ordinary citizens, while ensuring balance through the representation of all sides on critical issues.
According to him, this responsibility becomes even more crucial within the context of democratic governance and political competition, where the media helps shape public discourse.
Speaking on the evolving political landscape, Dr La’aro noted that politics fundamentally revolves around power, which scholars define as “who gets what, when, where and how.”
He said the build-up to the 2027 elections reflects this struggle, as political actors jostle for relevance, with former office holders seeking a return and incumbents working to retain control.
Dr La’aro, however, observed that beyond the visible contest for power, there are underlying dynamics that are not immediately apparent, particularly the lack of a strong alternative political movement.
He lamented that the continued dominance of familiar political figures, whose strengths and weaknesses are already known, may be increasingly affecting their acceptability among the electorate.|
