Anambra Election: Journalists Urged to Interrogate Political Allegations

Anambra Election: Journalists Urged to Interrogate Political Allegations

Journalists should always strive to obtain the other side of a story by verifying allegations made by political opponents during campaigns before going to press. “As election reporters, journalists must always verify any allegation made against another party or candidate before publishing”, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), said. Also,

Journalists should always strive to obtain the other side of a story by verifying allegations made by political opponents during campaigns before going to press.

“As election reporters, journalists must always verify any allegation made against another party or candidate before publishing”, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), said.

Also, Dr. Akin Akingbulu, the Executive Director of Institute for Media and Society charged media professionals and organizations to play effective watchdog roles during electoral processes and elections.

They both spoke at a one-day media engagement in Awka Anambra state recently ahead of the November 6, governorship election in the state. The engagement held at Finotel Classy Hotel, Awka, Anambra state.

The media engagement was hosted by IPC and IMS as implementing partners of Component 4, Support to Media of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Project.

The project aims at strengthening the capacity of Nigeria Journalists to enhance professionalism in reporting sensitive events, including electoral processes and also engage media practitioners on ethical reportage of the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state. About 50 participants at the event were drawn from broadcast, print, and online media organizations in Anambra state.

Mr. Arogundade and Dr. Akingbulu said journalists in the state have the major obligation of being professional, ethical, inclusive-focused and conflict-sensitive in the coverage of the Anambra forthcoming election.

They emphasised that verifying any allegation made against a party, candidate or any other interest group in the election before publishing would help to curb electoral tension before, during and after the election.

Dr. Akingbulu explained that the stakeholders’ interaction was aimed at strengthening the capacity of the participants in election coverage, adding that the attention of the whole world is on Anambra state for now adding that the success of the election would further strengthen democracy in Nigeria.

The state acting Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr. Ekpone Francis, in his goodwill remarks commended IPC/ IMS for the constant capacity building of Journalists across the country.
The media engagement which was a combination of capacity building, information sharing and interactive segments, consisted of five sessions.

The first session had two presentations under two sub-themes, ‘Understanding and using the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage’, by Mr. Arogundade of IPC and ‘Issues from statutory regulatory oversight’ by Dr. Akingbulu of IMS. While the second presentation, which was on inclusion in elections, featured Zoom presentations by Mr. Jake Epelle, President, The Albino Foundation, who spoke on ‘disability inclusion issues’ as well as Mrs. Miriam Menkiti, Executive Director, Women Information Network (WINET) who spoke on ‘Women in Politics’. The session also had a complementing presentation by Mrs. Franklyn Onyekachi of NAWOJ on ‘gender inclusion and inclusive reporting’.

Dr. Akingbulu also spoke on “Observations and lessons from Media Content Monitoring in Recent Elections in Nigeria through a power point presentation while Mr. Sanmi Falobi, Programme Manager of IPC dealt with ‘findings from IPC print/online media monitoring’.

The fourth session, entitled ‘Dealing with fake news and fact checking in Anambra elections’ was handled by Mr. Arogundade via a power point presentation.

The fifth session was a plenary/interactive session on ‘professional media coverage and deepening voter education in the Anambra State election’ which dovetailed into the final session featuring questions and general comments.

Participants observed that in view of past experiences on the conflictual nature of the campaign and election day phases of the electoral cycle in Nigeria, there must be high readiness for stakeholders, including the media, to carry out appropriate roles to deal with the potentials for violence although the atmosphere in the state ahead of the election remains relatively peaceful.

In the communique issued at the end of the engagement, journalists, security agencies, INEC and CSOs covering the Anambra elections were advised to Ensure inclusivity through deliberate steps to include women, PWDs and other under-reported sections of the population.

Journalists were in particular enjoined to ensure that they are properly accredited by INEC and have their accreditation tag visibly displayed at all times; be safety conscious and not put themselves in harm’s way by showing needed courtesy and caution when dealing with armed security personnel.

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