BY TEMI OHAKWE, ABUJA – Participants at a two-day capacity building workshop on elections coverage have tasked media professionals with the responsibility of ensuring peaceful elections through accurate reportage devoid of bias and sentiments.
They also declared that the media in Nigeria as watch dogs of the society have the capacity to enthrone good leadership through professionalism and effective conflict management techniques.
These were contained as part of the resolutions captured in a communique issued at the end capacity building workshop jointly organised by the Center For Democracy and Development (CDD), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for Journalists in the North Central geo-political zone.
The journalists held that the task of the media is not to function as the mouth piece of government or that of any candidate or political party but, should remain neutral and apolitical.
The participants cautioned journalists against sensationalism and reliance on social media without fact checking information at their disposal before publication.
The Communique further states; “The media must always beam their search lights on the electoral management body, INEC, to ensure it is impartial, free, fair and competent ability to deliver credible polls to Nigerians and the international community.
“That candidates of the various political parties must endeavour to present their manifestos to the public through various fora. Media organisations should also create platforms for candidates contesting other offices and not the Presidential candidates alone.
“In view of the security challenges in various parts of the country, media houses should play down the tension and also proffer solutions that will bring about peaceful elections.
“That media professionals and CSOs have critical roles to play in the coming elections hence the capacity building engagement to broaden their knowledge on the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act, and the new technological innovations introduced, especially the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS),” it said.
The participants therefore called on INEC to ensure the fulfilment of its promise to make the voters register available to political parties, as well as ensure a free, fair and credible election through making one man, one vote, a reality.
The workshop featured sessions on Key issues in the Electoral Act 2022, Demonstration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), Conflict Sensitive Reporting in Elections, Countering disinformation in Nigerian Elections.
The objective of the training among others include ensuring professionalism and ethical conduct among media professionals and civil society organisations.
