WorldStage Newsonline– With 51 days to the Edo State Governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has tasked media organisations to be factual and accurate in their reportage by adhering to the code and conduct of journalism profession.
The Chairman of the INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who disclosed this to journalist at the 3rd quarter consultative meeting with media executive in Abuja urged the media to continue to be a bulwark against fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
He said, “I wish to remind you of your obligation as journalists to report factually and accurately about the election and electoral activities in compliance with the ethics of your noble profession.
“You should continue to be a bulwark against fake news, misinformation and disinformation. I urge you to fully comply with the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage.”
He however, enjoined all interested media organisations for election coverage to comply with the INEC guidelines for media accreditation available on our website www.inecnigeria.org, before the deadline of Thursday 5th September 2024.
He said, ” This will enable the Commission to produce and deliver the accreditation tags for your reporters, camera operators, technical and other support staff in good time for the election.”
National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo who spoke at the meeting called for a constitutional amendment by the National Assembly (NASS) to empower INEC to conduct elections for local governments across Nigeria.
According to him, “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.”
He stated that currently, INEC enjoys constitutional authority to conduct national and sub-national elections, pointing out that “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.”
Isiguzo, further re-emphasizing the vital role of the media in the democratic process, added that INEC had consistently demonstrated its commitment to transparency and accountability through robust engagement with the media.
