As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, the country’s deteriorating security situation is raising fresh concerns about the ability of journalists to report freely and voters to access credible information. From conflict-affected communities in the North-East and North-West to areas facing banditry, kidnapping and communal violence, journalists increasingly have to balance the public’s right to know with their own safety. But insecurity is not the only pressure facing the media. Political polarization, misinformation, intimidation and restrictions on access to information could further complicate election coverage. In this report, Usman Umar examines whether Nigeria’s media can remain free, credible and effective as insecurity and political tensions intensify ahead of 2027.