Janet Samuel, Lagos
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has charged media owners, journalists and all stakeholders on the need to continuously maintain good reputation and unbiased status ahead of the 2023 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu gave the charge in a message to a Two-Day Capacity Building Workshop On the Processes, Innovations, Preparations For The 2023 General Election And Critical Issues In The Electoral Act 2022 For Press Corps Members held in Lagos.
The Workshop was organized in partnership with the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EUSDGN) and Development Alternative Incorporated (DAI).
The INEC Chairman, who was represented by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee Festus Okoye said media should assist in passing the right information and create awareness on the voters right.
According to him, fake news could lead to an electoral doom for the nation
He added that the role of the media in election management should not be allowed to thwart the commission’s umpire status by subjecting itself as addendum of political parties.
“The Commission is conscious of the critical role of the media in our political and electoral process and believes that democracy will only grow and flourish through adherence by the media to professional and ethical standards. Indeed, true democracy cannot exist without effective information flow.
“The INEC Press Corp is an indispensable partner in electoral process and they provide a veritable platform and pathway for the dissemination of electoral information to the Nigerian public. The Commission will continue to collaborate with the Press Corp in providing the requisite information that enables them to engage the electoral process and educate citizens to make informed choices”, he noted.
Professor Yakubu advises political parties to adhere to peaceful campaign conduct by avoiding abusive language that could stair up violence.
” We urge all the 18 registered political parties to critically study and pay attention to the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, the Police Act and the Public Order Act for the proper and peaceful conduct of political campaigns, rallies and processions. A political campaign or slogan shall not be tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings. Abusive, intemperate, slanderous or base language or innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent reaction or emotions shall not be employed or used in political campaigns.
Okoye assured that the Commission will continue to deploy the use of appropriate technology saying it is the only way to secure free, fair and credible poll explaining that the Commission has entered into a critical phase of the process noting that it will be completing 8 out of the 14 stages of the process outline in the timetable and schedule of activities for the General Election today.
In a remark, the Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC), Lagos State, Segun Agbaje charged the media to remain apolitical in its coverage of political issues, further enlighten the voters and collaborate with INEC to mobilize the electorate to participate actively to exercise their civic franchise.
