Ahead of 2019 general elections, the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, (HD Nigeria), has organised a one-day Conflict Sensitive Reporting workshop for Journalists in Benue.
The workshop themed “Peaceful Election: Conflict Sensitive Reporting,” was facilitated by HD Nigeria in conjunction with INEC and National Orientation Agency, NOA, with the aim of equiping journalists with needed skills to cover the 2019 general elections more responsibly.
Speaking on the topic “Responsible Media Coverage of the 2019 General Elections,” the Head of Department, Voter Education, INEC, Plateau State, Osaretin Imahiyereobo, said the media was a major stakeholder in the conduct of a peaceful election and needed to be fully equipped.
According to him, “At all times but, particularly in an election year, the press has the responsibility to give the people the true and undoctored fact that will make them to make responsible choices about their nation and states.
“Without the press, it’s impossible for the generality of the citizenry to discern facts from fiction, truth from falsehood in the multitude of promises that come cascading from the political soap box.”
He emphasized that the training was designed as a resource for journalists who will cover the 2019 elections to increase their knowledge of the principles that should guide their work and role during elections.
Imahiyereobo therefore, called on participants to follow electoral guidelines, the country’s constitution and parties’ manifestoes as well as broadcasting and press council codes to make them real actors in the service of democracy for Nigeria and not merely political instruments.
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In his remarks, Ahmed Yassin from HD Nigeria urged journalists to act as partners and use their medium to douse those features that are capable of causing tension during and after elections.
In a communiqué at the end of the workshop, journalists were charged to be objective in their reportage and give equal press opportunities to all political parties.
The participants identified hate speech during campaigns, thuggery, destruction of opponent’s campaign materials, cultism, media bias, lack of transparency, connivance by government in power to intimidate opposition among others, as part of challenges hampering peaceful elections in Nigeria.
They therefore asked INEC to provide adequate security for journalists during and after election to facilitate peaceful elections.
They also recommended regular training of key actors to build their capacity to cover the elections adequately.
The journalists also pledged to be sensitive in their reportage, to support INEC and security agencies to act and be seen to act with impartiality and also to be committed to propagating the slogan of “Vote in peace, Vote for peace,” while also ensuring that the 2019 election was free, fair and credible.