Rising from its annual All Nigeria Editors’ Conference, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), at the weekend condemned “the lack of truth” that has characterised elections in the country.
In a nine-point communiqué issued at the end of the five-day conference which held in Asaba, Delta State, the Editors enjoined the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to “remain independent in its practice by allowing citizens’ votes to count; as such is cardinal to sustaining democracy.”
The NGE, in the communiqué signed by Funke Egbemode and Victoria Ibanga, president and general secretary of the body respectively, also lamented the degree of insecurity in the country insisting that the nation deserved more than rhetoric and political slogans on issues of citizens’ welfare.
The Conference which held from the 10th to 14th of October, was themed: “Credible Elections, Sustainable Democracy and the Nigerian Media.”
It was declared open by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
The communiqué as issued by the Editors reads in full: At the end of the conference, Editors:
* Commended the 91 political parties in the country for the maturity displayed during the party primaries of most of them but frowned at the allegations of vote buying which the editors observed was a subtle but worrisome way of institutionalising corruption.
* Editors decried the level of insecurity in the country stressing that the nation deserves more than rhetoric and political slogans on issues of citizens’ welfare.
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* Editors commended the government and good people of Delta State for the rapid growth in infrastructure across the state as well as human capacity development.
*The conference observed that elections in Nigeria are not built on truth and therefore urged the umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to remain independent in its practice by allowing citizens’ votes to count; as such is cardinal to sustaining democracy.
*Editors expressed the need for Nigerian journalists to intensify efforts that will deepen democracy through sustained investigative, balance and analytical reportage.
*The conference challenged media practitioners to join in the mobilisation of Nigerians through unbiased reports to take collective responsibility in choosing leaders for the nation in the next general elections.
The Guild observed that the role of traditional media is being threatened with the emergence of the social media where balanced reporting, truth and accuracy are gradually and consistently being relegated. Editors at the end of deliberations agreed to defend the truth through professional practice.
*Editors urged the publishers and chief executives of media establishments to play down on the commoditisation of information to enhance objectivity.
*Editors called on politicians and security agencies not to intimidate electorate, but allow them to freely make their choices for democracy to thrive in Nigeria.
* Politicians were advised to do away with the culture of winning at all cost and by all means in the forth-coming elections so as to avert electoral violence.
