2023 ELECTIONS: INEC TASKS JOURNALISTS ON RESPONSIBLE REPORTAGE
REPORTER: AMECHI ODO
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will continue to partner the media as a key stakeholder in the electoral process and a viable tool for combating fake news and malicious falsehood ahead of the 2023 general election.
The National Commissioner incharge of Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, stated this during a one Day Capacity Building Workshop on Conflict Sensitive Reporting and 2023 General Election organised for South East Journalists in Abakaliki.
Mr. Okoye accompanied by top officials of the Commission, including the newly deployed Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ebonyi State, Mrs. Onyeka Ugochi, urged journalists in the country to handle election reporting with an eye on conflict sensitivity, national peace and cohesion.
He noted that as 2023 general election approached, the media should avoid what he described as obvious landmines, including breaking news syndrome, sensational headlines, and stories slanted to suit religious, zonal and ethnic persuasions.
The National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chief Chris Isiguzo, represented by the National Secretary of the Union, Mr. Shuaibu Leman, observed that for active participation of Nigerians in the democratic process, the media must be strengthened to provide the country with authentic information.
The Chairman NUJ in Ebonyi State, Comrade Tony Nwizi, commended INEC for selecting Ebonyi as the host state for the workshop and urged the Commission to guarantee the security of media workers during the election.
Some of the journalists, including the General Manager Radio Nigeria Unity Fm Abakaliki, Dr. Mcsylvester Ndolo; and the Chairman Correspondents Chapel NUJ Ebonyi State, Comrade Samson Nwafor, described the workshop as timely and appealed that it be made periodic.
There were papers on the 2022 Electoral Act and technological innovations to be deployed during the election delivered by INEC Officials.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
