Reporting elections requires special skills, INEC tells online publishers

Online publishers have been charged on the delicate nature of election reportage in the country because of its national security implications when not handled with an eye on conflict sensitivity, national peace and cohesion.

National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Barrister Festus Okoye stated this at a program for online publishers on Wednesday, November 24.

Barr. Okoye stated that reporting elections requires special skills and understanding of the centrality of election to Nigeria’s survival as a federal democracy where incontrovertible facts devoid of speculation, grandstanding and political maneuvers are more likely to be more helpful.

“This is simply because one false report that goes viral may have the potential of triggering a breakdown of law and order in a part or the whole of the country.

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According to him, the works of INEC has national security implications, which implies that reporting elections needs to be handled with an eye on conflict sensitivity and national peace and cohesion

“The Commission under the leadership of Professor Mahmood Yakubu has been deliberate and strategic in forging partnerships with different stakeholders in Nigeria’s electoral democracy. Among the wide range of stakeholders, the Commission gives priority to the media as the fourth estate of the realm.

“The Commission recognizes the constitutional role conferred on the media to educate the citizens and provide them with adequate and relevant information to uphold their citizenship of the Nigerian state.  The Commission is convinced that it needs the reach and support of the media for Nigerians to understand its processes and procedures especially in the area of deepening electoral democracy through the use of technology.

“This has informed and continues to inform the Commission’s quarterly engagement with the media and its regular press conferences, briefings and press statements.

He stated that the it is in the interest of the country for the media to always seek for official clarification on germane and serious national issues, especially when electoral matters are involved, instead of  relying on the opinion of unnamed “highly placed officials” of the Commission and those of ‘a National Commissioner that does not want to be named’.