INEC Train Journalists On Election Guidelines Ahead Of Ondo Guber 

By Joseph Sunday 

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has trained journalists on its guidelines ahead of the Ondo State Guber election. 

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Declaring the one day Forum for Reporters, Producers and On Air Personalities ahead of the 2024 Ondo State Governorship Election opened where journalists were trained on guidelines, held at the Grand Capital Hotel, located at the Alagbaka area of Akure, the Ondo State Capital, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mr Sam Olumekun, represented by the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the INEC, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, described the media as a vital bridge between the electorates and the electoral umpire. 

Olumekun used the opportunity to announce to the people of Ondo State that the INEC will open its door starting from the 23rd October to the 29th of October 2024 for the distribution of the Permanent Voters Cards. He also sought for the assistance of the various media organizations covering the November 16th, 2024 Ondo governorship election in mobilizing the citizens of the State for their full participation during the election.

He equally pleaded with the media  practitioners to be well guided against escalating fake news by exercising caution and upholding high standard of professionalism and ensuring objectivity in their reportage.

He however assured that the INEC is fully dedicated to providing a level playing ground towards the election. 

Adding, Olumekun urged the media to work together with the Independent National Electoral Commission to make the November 16th, 2024 election a success. 

Earlier in her Welcome Address, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Ondo State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, represented by the Administrative Secretary, Mr Biodun Onikate – Amosu, stated that the purpose of the one day training was to refresh the memory of the Reporters, Producers and On Air Personalities with the comprehensive informations on the guidelines of the Governorship election in Ondo State. 

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She also urged the media to avoid misinformation and disinformation when reporting the election. 

Pointing out, Babalola stressed the need for the report of the media practitioners to reflect the guidelines for the election. “Also, the source of every information to be dished out to the public must be verified before publishing or reporting them so as not to truncate the peace of the State during the election. Sensationalism stories regarding the election must be de-emphasized”, she submitted. 

In a goodwill message given by the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union Of Journalists, NUJ, Ondo State Council, Comrade Leke Adegbite, he appreciated the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for coming up with the training for over 400 journalists in Ondo State. 

He equally called on journalists to de-escalate fake news by using the various means to fact – check stories before they are reported.

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He however appealed to journalists to step down whatever they learnt during the training so as to educate the members of the public and other journalists in the State who did participate in the training. 

During the sessions, the Head of Department of the ICT/VR, Mr Nicholas Ocholi while making a presentation on “the Technological Innovations by INEC with Emphasis on BVAS and it’s Usage”, dwell on the important of the BVAS and IREV technologies already being put to use in the previous elections, thereby expressing the Country’s electoral umpire’s confidence on them”.

On her own presentation, on the Role of the Media and INEC in the Electoral Process, Acting Director in Charge of Publicity, Mrs Esther Chibuikem, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Publicity, Mrs Tadese Adenike, advised journalists not to allow any sentiment dictate the pace or direction where their reports or stories tilts. She emphasised on the need for journalists not to be partisan or religious minded, but rather, ensure political parties play by the rules through their reports, and that the political actors and stakeholders remains non – violent. 

She also used the opportunity to call on the journalists to assist the INEC in mobilizing the electorates to participates in the processes leading to the election as well as help them make informed choices through media reports and counter misinformation and fake news. 

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Mrs Tadese however submitted on the need for the media to be factual, thorough, firm, fair, hold and criticize all the stakeholders’ accountable including the INEC. 

Also, addressing the participants at the one day training, on the Voting Procedures and Levels of Preparedness, the Head of Department of the Electoral Operations, Alhaji Amosa Lamidi, stated that the activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission since the date for the Ondo State Governorship Election was announced has taken care of its activities which started from the pasting of the notice of election, taking of inventory at the INEC stores across the local government areas of Ondo State and monitoring of the political parties governorship primaries.

Others includes the conduct of the continuous voters exercise, inter-agency consultative meetings, engagement with transporters, identification of flash points in Ondo State, identification of difficult terrains, assessment of RAC’s, recruitment of INEC Ad-hoc staff as well as the collection and distribution of non-sensitive materials. 

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Speaking on the Legal Framework and the Electoral Act 2022 and the Elections, the Head of  Legal Department of INEC, Barrister Stella Dike reminded journalists on the various provisions of law regarding the conduct of elections in the Country. She urged them to be guided with the provisions of the law, calling on them to equip themselves with the provisions so as to be properly in tune appropriately. 

Mr Nathaniel Gana while also briefing journalists on the online accreditation of media organizations, said, the updates on the online accreditation so far, revealed that the Commission has received 72 applications from different media organizations. 

He appealed to the media organizations who are yet to take advantage of the Online accreditation to do so within the time remaining.

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