Ahead of the governorship elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states in Nigeria, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has urged Nigerian journalists to adhere to the ethical standards of the profession to enable an effective flow of information.
Yakubu, who was represented by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Sam Olumekun, at a two-day workshop on election coverage in Akwanga, Nasarawa state, on Monday, said that true democracy cannot exist without effective information flow.
He advised the media to be unbiased in their reportage so as to guide Nigerians to make informed choices and enhance free, fair, and credible elections.
Yakubu highlighted the major roles of the media in election coverage as:
- Providing stakeholders with timely and relevant information pertaining to the electoral process
- Carrying out voter education and public enlightenment
- Mobilizing the electorate to participate in the electoral processes
The workshop, which was organized by INEC in collaboration with Development Alternative Incorporated (DAI), was themed: “Ethical, Safety Practices and Critical Issues Relating to the Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa Governorship Elections”.
It was designed to train journalists on the ethical and safety considerations involved in election coverage, as well as the critical issues that they should be aware of in the upcoming elections.
