By Joy Odor
Independent National Electroal Commission (INEC) has challenged media organizations to continue to be a bulwark against fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu gave the charge in his speech at the Third Regular Quarterly Consultative Meeting in preparation for Edo state governorship elections in Abuja on Wednesdays.
He remind the media of their obligation as journalists to report factually and accurately about the election and electoral activities in compliance with the ethics of their noble profession.
Prof Yakubu urged them to expedite action by ensuring that all interested media organisations submit their applications before the deadline of Thursday 5th September 2024.
INEC Chairman informed that this will enable the Commission to produce and deliver the accreditation tags for their reporters, camera operators, technical and other support staff in good time for the election.
“As the Edo State Governorship approaches, I wish to remind media organisations that the portal for media accreditation (https://imap.inecnigeria.org) is still open.
“As at 8.02am today, Wednesday 31st July 2024, 24 media organisations representing print, radio, television and online have uploaded the details of 227 personnel for the election” he said.
Prof Yakubu Explained that the Commission are as concerned about the safety of Media personnel and equipment just as they are about the security of their own officials, observers, service providers and, above all, the voters.
“We will also work with the security agencies to ensure that accredited journalists are granted unimpeded access to all voting and collation locations.
“I urge you to fully comply with the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage.
“Similarly, you are required to comply with the INEC guidelines for media accreditation available on our website www.inecnigeria.org.
It is now 51 days to the Edo State Governorship election coming up on Saturday 21st September 2024.
Our preparations are going on in earnest.
I am glad to report that we have recovered from the torrential rainfall that resulted in the severe flooding of our State Headquarters in Benin City two months ago.
The damage to the physical infrastructure as well as movable and immovable facilities are being fixed or replaced. We have delivered additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines to Edo State for the training of election duty personnel as well as contingency for Election Day support.
We have once again published the final list of candidates in compliance with the recent Court Order mandating the Commission to replace the running mate to the candidate of the Labour Party.
The amended list is already published on our website.
Following the conclusion of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), the display of the register for claims and objections by citizens, and further data clean-up using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), the final registers for the forthcoming Governorship elections are being finalised.
Before the end of this week, the Commission will publish the final figures of new voters in the two States as well as their distribution by gender, age, occupation and disability.
Thereafter, the timetable for the collection of uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) from previous registration, and new registrants from the latest CVR, will be published. Based on the information provided by the Commission, we look forward to your partnership in encouraging citizens to collect their PVCs.
Campaign by political parties and candidates is in full swing in both Edo and Ondo States.
The Commission finds the recent event in Edo State resulting in the death of a security personnel worrisome.
Happily, there has been no incident known to the Commission since then.
Nevertheless, the Commission will meet with the security agencies as early as Friday this week under the auspices of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
Turning to the issue of bye-elections, you may recall that at our last meeting, the Commission informed you about the existence of vacancies in four States, involving three State Constituencies and one Federal Constituency.
Since then, two more vacancies have been declared by the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives following the death of the members representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency of Oyo State and the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State. The Commission will soon announce the dates for the bye-elections.
Earlier, Comrade Chris Isiguzo, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists appealed to journalists interested in being part of the election by way of coverage to without delay upload their details on the portal to ensure that accreditation tags are produced in good time for the election.
According to him, the transparency and efficiency with which elections are conducted directly influence the public’s confidence in the democratic processes, noting his confident that INEC is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that these elections are free, fair, and credible.
NUJ President maintained that media collaboration with INEC is essential in achieving these goals.
He also appeal to the security agencies to equally extend the necessary support and partnership with the media in order to check incessant harassments and intimidation of journalists on election duties.
“This meeting today is particularly important because the commission will avail us with further updates on its preparations for these critical elections. We are also excited to receive the news that the commission has recovered from the temporary set back experience in Edo State following the rains. I
The role of the media in this process is indispensable. As watchdogs of society, we have the duty to report accurately and objectively, to educate the electorate, and to provide a platform for diverse voices and opinions.
Supreme Court Judgment on Local Government Autonomy
I would also like to take this opportunity to weigh in on a significant recent development – the Supreme Court judgment which granted full autonomy to local government administrations. This landmark ruling is a major stride towards strengthening our democracy at the grassroots level. Local governments are the closest tier of government to the people, and their autonomy is crucial for effective governance and development.
However, for this autonomy to be truly conclusive and impactful, there is a need for constitutional amendments by the National Assembly. Specifically, the relevant sections of the constitution should be amended to empower INEC to conduct elections for local governments across the country. Currently, INEC enjoys constitutional authority to conduct national and sub-national elections. Extending this authority to include the third tier of government will ensure uniformity, credibility, and efficiency in the electoral process.
In light of this, the proposal to create an Independent Local Government Electoral Commission is, in my view, unnecessary. Establishing a separate body for local government elections could lead to redundancy, increased bureaucracy, and potential conflicts of interest. Instead, leveraging INEC’s established framework, experience, and resources would be a more efficient and effective approach to managing local government elections.
“The importance of engaging with the media, especially in the context of elections, cannot be overemphasized. The media serves as the bridge between the electoral commission and the citizens, ensuring that accurate information is disseminated, electoral processes are transparent, and the voices of the people are heard. This synergy between INEC and the media is crucial as we approach the off-season gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo states.
Finally, I wish to once more commend INEC for sustaining this quarterly ritual of engaging with the media and maintaining the transparency of our electoral processes. As the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, I reaffirm our commitment to supporting INEC in its mission to uphold the integrity of elections in Nigeria. Together, we can foster a democratic environment that is open, accountable, and reflective of the will of the people” he ended.
