The National Assembly New Media Forum (NANMF), a coalition of accredited online journalists covering parliamentary affairs, has strongly condemned recent media reports that sensationalized a verbal slip by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Wednesday’s plenary session.
In the reports, Akpabio was quoted as saying, “Nigeria is proud of the way Tinubu was honored and buried,”—a gaffe he promptly corrected on the floor.
Describing the coverage as irresponsible and unprofessional, NANMF Chairman Clement Nwabuko expressed disappointment over what he called a deliberate attempt by some outlets to exploit a harmless slip for clickbait headlines.
“It was a simple slip of the tongue—something anyone could make. Senator Akpabio corrected himself immediately. Turning that into headline news is a disservice to journalism,” Nwabuko said.
He questioned the intent behind the sensational coverage:
“Everyone knows it was former President Muhammadu Buhari who passed away, not President Tinubu. So why dwell on the error? Is Akpabio not human? The intention seems more about scoring cheap political points than informing the public.”
Nwabuko warned that inflating trivial mistakes for attention not only misleads the public but also undermines the integrity of the Senate and its leadership.
“By blowing this incident out of proportion, those reports stirred unnecessary embarrassment and disrespected the office of the Senate President. NANMF finds such reportage unprofessional, distasteful, and utterly condemnable,” he said.
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The NANMF Chairman further advised media professionals, particularly older generation journalists to adopt a more credible and impactful approach to news coverage, especially in an era of verified digital communication channels.
“There is no shortage of real, newsworthy content in this country. Why chase clout with a corrected error? It’s time we focus on journalism that informs the public, strengthens democracy, and reflects professional ethics,” Nwabuko added.
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