Journalist participants at a stakeholders’ interface on the impending Edo State gubernatorial election have re-committed to a high degree of professionalism and responsibility towards a fair and accurate reporting of the electoral process.

The two-day interface was organised by the International Press Centre as part of Component 4: Support to Media of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGNII), and focused on key election issues, especially how the media can set a people-centric agenda for relevant stakeholders during the election period.

The stakeholders’ interface engaged media practitioners in robust discussions about the importance of instilling best practices and exploring innovative approaches to improving the credibility of Edo State’s governorship election by employing appropriate skills and tools.

Representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police Force, the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps, and media organisations also discussed their preparations and plans to work with the media in the public’s interest and for a credible electioneering process.

Apart from the media’s role in informing voters of their rights and responsibilities, one takeaway from the interface was a commitment to assist with voter education for increased voter participation in the election and to provide access to electoral information.

Some of the media professionals who participated in the Interface programme shared their perspectives with Nigerian Democratic Report (NDR), after the two-day programme. They explained their roles in the election and how they can get more involved by increasing their reporting and learning new things to serve the public interest better morally and professionally.

Speaking about the knowledge gained and its importance in covering the state governorship election, Flora Bossey, a DBN journalist, emphasised the need for journalists to collaborate with the electorate to have a credible election that will produce a candidate who will represent their interests over the next four years.

Admitting that she has been further equipped with strategies to ask cogent questions, which will bring inclusive leadership to the state, “We have been told here that the election is a cycle; it is a process, and it doesn’t come and end only with the candidates, you need to talk to the people because the election is about them. Representing them, good governance for them and all that, so we need to also talk to the people and find out what their problems are, highlight them and then follow the politicians not to get their money but to find out their manifestos and what they are offering.

“What they are promising, and warehouse same, to hold them accountable to the promises that have been made after winning their election. In all, it’s to ensure that we have good governance in our society,” she said.
For Josephine Osamede Erhinmwinhe, a reporter with the Edo State Broadcasting Service the stakeholders’ interface was a curation of knowledge for the participants on how to impact the state positively during the electioneering process by accurately informing the public on the plans and preparations for the poll.

She also acknowledged the need for verification of information before spreading it to the public, adding that false information is one of the major threats to the election. As a journalist, she urged fellow journalists to provide the public with credible information.

“The training is so apt and there is so much I have learned from this training today. When talking about being knowledgeable, for instance, if you’re going to ask questions, you should be knowledgeable about the question you want to pass across, and everything you’re doing as a journalist,”, she opined.
“You should think about that and get your facts before going out, the bottom line is telling the people the right information, to make informed decisions during the election.”

“In this election, whenever I’m going out, from what I’ve gathered, I have to be on the ground and ask for credible information. I have gathered that everything is about the people, tell the people, give them facts, and go on fact-checking if possible so that the people will be well informed, it is all about the people and not us, the journalists.”
Speaking to NDR about professionalism and ethics for media professionals”, Festus Alenkha, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, stated that journalists are responsible for providing all political parties with a fair and impartial environment free from prejudice and personal feelings.

He also acknowledged the insights shared with the participants on collaborations and the application of the media code of election coverage, which comprises the information needed for journalists to operate effectively on election duty
“The training is a good one, and we would like to thank the organisers of the training International Press Centre for the wonderful outing, I know that a lot of journalists are now fully at rest on what to do at the right time, especially election coverage in 2024 in Edo State.

“We have been told to ensure balanced reportage and to refrain from wearing political parties or candidates’ paraphernalia before, during, and after the election. And we were also told that it is key for us to observe the ethics of the journalism profession, and also to go in line with the code of election coverage, so this is what we are going to adhere to.”

Another participant, Joy Odigie, a reporter with the News Agency of Nigeria stated that the training has served as a light beam for her to work with different stakeholders in the election and to have the citizens at heart as her focus to ensure a credible and free election in the state.

“When I am asking a question, I need to fact check, because during an election, you know a lot of people are saying so many things. Social media is a free place, so as a journalist, before I publish anything, I need to fact-check, to know whether it’s true and know the source of it because, when you see any fake information, it can cause chaos in society.

“So, I also learned that we need to collaborate, different stakeholders need to collaborate to ensure that the election is credible. In terms of the media, if you have like a crime scene you need to inform the police then the police too need to give information to the journalist so that they won’t publish fake information.

“In summary, I think it will make me more effective in my reportage, it will ensure that I write more citizen-driven stories and also prompt the politician to see what they want to do, as in settle the agenda for the politician in terms of what they want to do if elected governor”, she stated.

Speaking about the impact of the interface on the development of the state democracy, Israel Adebiyi, an On Air Personality with the Super FM, Edo state expatiated that “it will deepen democracy, and shape democracy; it will put the political class on their toes, and it will make the people better prepared when it comes to the election process.

“These are things that can impact the election, and it can also help us, this section will help us to have better reportage that will help the electorate to make informed decisions. Because if they just cast their votes without having the right information, it will mean that we have not done our job well”, he said.

Okeoghene Orogun, a freelance journalist with NewsNow, explained that the interface has further saddled her other journalists to encourage the citizens to participate in the election as it is their civic right and duty.

She also acknowledged the platform created to meet with other stakeholders during the elections and to further assure the Edo people of the positive outcome in the coming poll.

“This programme has encouraged me to inform people to participate in the election. Although we have a long way to go after the last general election now we need a lot of sensitization, a lot of campaigns to encourage people that yes, your vote will count, that they should not look at the last election, that this is a new election, and INEC have learned from their last mistake and they won’t repeat it anymore this upcoming election”, she said.