The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has solicited the support and cooperation of media practitioners in ensuring free, fair and credible elections in 2023.
The Commission asked for the support during a one-day media capacity-building workshop ahead the 2023 elections.
The workshop, in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and with the theme “Conflict-Sensitive Reporting And 2023 Elections”, was held at the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The national electoral body said the media and journalists are essential to a successful 2023 electoral exercise that would not only be credible but also acceptable to all Nigerians.
Speaking at the workshop, INEC national commissioner and chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, assured that the 2023 elections would be devoid of rigging.
Okoye, represented by a deputy director of the Commission, Mrs Ndidi Okafor, said gone was the era of election rigging, with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
BIVAs is an electronic device designed to read Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and authenticate voters, using either the voters’ fingerprints or facial identification.
“With the BIVAS, cases of rigging will be greatly reduced, if not completely eradicated at the 2023 elections. With BIVAS, stolen Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) can no longer be used to vote during elections.
“BIVAS is the ultimate decider. The only reason why a registered voter cannot vote during election is the problem of identity theft. This is because BIVAS cannot authenticate a voter who wants to use PVC that was stolen.
“Stealing or amassing of PVCs can no longer affect the process of election. Any politician who amassed solen PVCs is just doing so in futility as BIVAS will not be able to identify such PVCs,” Mrs Okafor said.
She therefore urged media practitioners to ensure accurate reportage and also understand the process by getting familiar with the legal instruments guiding the electoral process.
INEC Head of Department (HoD), Legal Services, said the Electoral Act 2022 has further strengthened INEC in so many ways.
The new powered Mrs Okorie said included adequate funding of the Commission, at least, one year before the conduct of elections.
By the provisions of the Electoral Act, Mrs Okorie said, INEC has been empowered to suspend an election with cogent reasons, including insecurity or threat to the election.
She said the new timeline for Notice of Election has been extended to 360 days; 90-day window for registration; and 90-day window for request for replacement of damaged PVCs.
The INEC Head of Legal Services said the Commission was done with the submission of names of nominees of the political parties for the 2023 elections. She added that it new additions can only be made to the nomination list on the INEC portal, via a court order.
She also disclosed that it is only participants in the primaries of any of the registered political parties who can challenge the primaries, and on reasonable grounds.
Also speaking at the workshop, Administrative Secretary of INEC, Oyo State, Alhaji Abiodun Onikate-Amosu, assured of the preparedness of the Commission for the 2023 elections in the state.
He disclosed that there are 6, 390 BVAS for the 6, 390 polling units in the state. He assured that not a single registered voter will be disenfranchised in the 2023 elections in the state.
Onikate-Amosu said the media is a major factor in fostering democracy “because the media play a major role in keeping the citizens abreast of current events and raising awareness of various issues in any society which in turn has the potential of shaping the public opinions.
“Journalists are expected to have thorough understanding of all issues pertaining to elections, so as to help them convey details to citizens in simple and clear terms, aimed at deepening democratic dividends…
“The Media, regarded as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, is an essential factor in the process of democracy. As such, you cannot afford to lag behind in your duties as it would be detrimental to the state of the nation at whatever point that happens.
“You are not expected to monitor just good governance and make government accountable, but also help to mobilise the populace to participate in the process of governance and development…
“I want to assure you that INEC will always be up to the task and available to attend to everything that falls within the ambit of its mandates as enshrined in the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution as we have always been doing,” he said.
NUJ President, Chief Chris Isiguzo, presented a paper, “Role Of The Media In the Conduct Of Peaceful Elections”, at the workshop.
Isiguzo was represented by a national trustee, NUJ Zone F and General Manager of Bronze FM, Benin, Edo State, Mrs Abimbola Oyetunde.
He said the one-day capacity-building workshop was auspicious for media practitioners to brainstorm and prepare ahead of the 2023 elections.
He urged journalists to be committed to improving the ethical standard of news reportage during elections. “They must ensure that they undertake their professional duties within the ambit of the Electoral Law and other regulations.
“The media must always beam their searchlight on the Election Management Body, INEC, to ensure that it is impartial and competent; that it embraces transparency and inclusivity in its composition and mandate in order to discharge its duties effectively,” he added.
Meanwhile, the leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called on the Federal Government to provide bailout funds for media houses to serve as lifeline for journalists struggling to survive after the deadly surge of COVID-19 pandemic.
The bailout funds, according to the NUJ leadership, should be specially dedicated to support journalists to continue to carryout their statutory role of nation-building.
The chairman, NUJ, Oyo State Council, Comrade Ademola Babalola, made the call on Wednesday at a one-day capacity-building workshop for journalists in the South-West on Conflict-Sensitive Reporting and 2023 General Election, held at the Dapo Aderogba Hall, NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
Comrade Babalola said, just like the government bails other critical sectors of the economy by providing life support funds, media houses could also be given life-support funds by the Federal Government due to the critical role the media plays in nation building.
“In the last few years, many journalists have been thrown out of jobs, while those still in the system were owed several months of salaries, with attendant effects on the growth and development of the profession,” he said.
The NUJ chairman, while lamenting the deplorable condition of many journalists in the country, opined that with intervention of the Federal Government, comatose media houses can be revived, while many journalists could be gainfully employed.
Among those present at the workshop were the vice president, Zone B, Mrs Ronke Samo; the national trustee member, Mr Bayo Akamo, the Oyo state NUJ Chairman, Alhaji Ademola Babalola , and leaders of the NUJ in the state.
Also present were top-ranking officials of the INEC Head of Legal Services, Mrs Faith Okorie, INEC Administrative Secretary, Alhaji Abiodun Onikate-Amosu, and the INEC Head of Voters’ Education, Mrs Rosemary Alaba Adeniyi.
