By Amos Odhe
In preparation for the Ondo State off-cycle governorship election, the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) will from Tuesday September 10, 2024, host a series of dialogue and stakeholders’ engagement, with the objective of ensuring “fair, ethical, and inclusive coverage of the electoral processes by the media and peaceful conduct by the citizens.”
These initiatives, according to a release made available to our correspondent, are part of Component 4: Support to Media under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance (EUSDGNII) project, which seeks to strengthen democratic consolidation in Nigeria through professional and responsible media coverage of elections.
Our correspondent gathered that the activities align with the recommendations of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Nigeria, which focus on improving media performance during elections. This includes adherence to the Electoral Act, the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, and the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage.
IPC’s Media and Election Stakeholders Dialogue, scheduled for September 10 and 11, 2024, “will concentrate on ensuring that media and election stakeholders carry out their roles with accountability and responsibility. The dialogue will address early warning signals related to the socio-political context of the Ondo elections and include discussions on enhancing media practices in reporting electoral campaigns and the elections themselves.”
In collaboration with the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State chapter, IPC will engage participants on critical issues affecting the elections, such as the need for inclusive, issue-focused, and gender-sensitive reporting.
The sessions will also include interactions with institutional stakeholders including the Ondo State INEC, the Ondo State Police Command, and the Ondo State National Orientation Agency. These discussions will further emphasise the importance of collaborative efforts to ensure journalist safety, a violence-free election, and effective civic/voter education.
Following this, CEMESO will conduct media engagements and appearances on TV and radio on September 12 & 13, 2024. These engagements will focus on off-season election issues such as voter and civic education, monitoring electoral bodies’ preparations, managing political interferences, and ensuring balanced and detailed programming for Election Day.
Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said: “Off-season elections often face challenges of low public engagement and visibility, therefore, dynamic dialogues between media and election stakeholders are vital to maintain transparency, accountability, and public awareness.
“By fostering these collaborations, the media can effectively fulfill its watchdog role, provide accurate information, and stimulate citizen participation, ultimately strengthening the democratic process,” he said.
Dr. Akin Akingbulu, Executive Director of CEMESO, noted that, “Effective interaction with media and election stakeholders is essential for a successful electoral process. By addressing key issues such as electoral reforms, voter rights, and media responsibilities, we aim to ensure these topics remain central to public discourse.
“This helps enhance the credibility and transparency of the electoral process and leverages the media’s role in fostering a well-informed electorate, ultimately upholding the overall integrity of the electoral process.”
The media programs, which will also involve stakeholder analysis of voter education issues within the framework of the off-season election, will engage up to 60 journalists from broadcast, print, and online media. These journalists will be covering the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for November 2024.
