2023: INEC, NUJ train South-South journalists on conflict sensitive reporting
By Itoro Bassey
As preparation for the 2023 general elections intensifies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, on Tuesday, 6th April, 2022, held a one-day capacity building workshop on election conflict-sensitive reporting skills for Journalists in the South-South zone of the country.
The workshop was held at NUJ Press Centre, Information Drive, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital.
Papers presented at the occasion were on: “The Electoral Act 2022 and the 2023 General Election” delivered by Barr. Wilfred Nwabude, who represented O.O Babalola, INEC Director for Legal Drafting and Clearance; “INEC’s New Technologies for 2023 General Election” handled by INEC’s director for ICT, Engr Cosmas Esoha, while the National President of NUJ, Chief Chris Isiguzo, represented by Comrade Opaka Dokubo, Vice President, NUJ, Zone F, spoke on “The Media and the 2023 General Election”.
Speaking during his lecture, Engr Cosmas Esoha stated that measures have been put in place to ensure transparency and accountability, public audit and verification of results, electronic accreditation and computation of results, among other innovation, ahead of 2023.
Esoha assured that the Commission was set to conduct free, fair and credible election throughout the country next year with the introduction of technology such as the Bi-modal Voters Authentication System (BIVAS), INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV), together with the online biodata registration of adhoc personnel recruited for the election.
Barr. Nwabude, who spoke on the Electoral Act 2022, highlighted salient points concerning innovation in the Act, pre and post election disputes, and challenges of election management and credible elections in Nigeria where he also emphasized on the lack of internal democracy among political parties, culture of do-or-die politics, non-compliance to INEC rules, among others.
Also in his message, the INEC spokesman in the state, Odaro Isien, who described the media as critical stakeholder in the political process, stressed the need for effective information flow for democracy to thrive.
While he noted that an independent and pluralistic media have long been embraced in the country, Isien said the media help to bring about a better informed electorates, as they provide political parties with the tools to reach large audiences.
He urged journalists to ensure they mobilize the electorate to actively participate in the 2023 electoral process through awakening in them the consciousness of taking ownership of the political process, while illuminating activities of the election.
He commended the media for prioritizing the electoral process and for supporting the commission in its task, adding that INEC would continue to foster the relationship even as it prepares to conduct credible election next year.
Earlier in his welcome address at the NUJ Press Centre in Uyo, venue of the training, the National President of NUJ, Chief Chris Isiguzo, said the media have a cardinal objective to promote democracy and would therefore continue to work with INEC to ensure that democracy works properly in the country.
Speaking thought Comrade Opaka Dokubo, Chief Isiguzo said: “The NUJ believes that for the masses of this country to actively participate in the democratic process, the media itself must be strengthened to ensure that some of the mechanisms through which community empowerment can be achieved are out in place, and this includes the unhindered access to information, and proactive initiatives like this with INEC which is aimed at strengthening the way and manner journalists perform their work during election times”.
Earlier in his remark, the State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Amos Etuk, commended INEC for the training for Journalists in the South-south region, saying that it would go a long way in keeping them up-to-date with trends in conflict-sensitive reporting and electoral coverage as a whole.
The Communiqué issued at the end of the training stated in part: “The forum noted series of misinterpretation of provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 by media houses and guests appearing on media programmes, and advised that media houses should always seek clarifications about any provision in the Act whenever in doubt so as not to mislead the public.
“Electoral stakeholders and actors were encouraged to avoid inciteful statements capable of causing a breach of public peace, order and harmony during the 2023 elections, appealed for support to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
“INEC was urged to ensure close collaboration with security agencies to ensure protection of journalists, stakeholders and actors who will be working on election matters as well voters particularly in riverine areas which may be vulnerable to attacks.
“INEC assured persons who transferred their registration to the State, applied for change of polling units, and those who applied for renewal of defaced PVCs, that their cards will be ready for collection at the respective INEC offices in their LGAs from Monday 12th December 2022.
“INEC announced the collection of Permanent Voter Cards will end on January 22, 2023 and media houses should continue sensitising the public on matters relating to the elections”.
