Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa
Ahead of the November 2023 governorship election in Bayelsa State, the International Press Centre (IPC) in partnership with the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) have trained over 50 journalists drawn from both the print and electronic media for proper election coverage of the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in the state.
The two-day workshop aimed at ensuring that journalists are adequately prepared for proper coverage of the guber polls took place at the South-South Hotels, in Yenagoa , the state capital.
With the theme, ‘IPC/CEMESO Media Roundtable/Engagement Toward Bayelsa Governorship Election’, the event, assisted by the European Union (EU), also witnessed an interactive session between journalists and some major stake holders for the guber polls such as the independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and the state command of the Nigerian Police force (NPF).
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In his remarks, Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC) Lagos, advised journalists to be properly armed for better and professional coverage of the forthcoming guber elections in the state.
Arogundade pointed out that proper coverage of the election would lead to the expected change and democratic dividends in the state.
He further stressed that the event was organised to critically examine the interconnections between the public, the media, and the electoral processes and to develop an agenda that seeks to strengthen the role of the media and the citizens in engendering credible electoral processes.
“We believe that the media has a critical agenda-setting role that can enable the credibility of elections. The media should ensure that the entire process of election is accountable by being open to public scrutiny.
“We believe that you will bring the required professionalism and inclusivity to bear in covering the ongoing electoral process in the state to enable the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free, fair and credible Bayelsa governorship elections come November 11, 2023.
“We are here to brainstorm and exchange ideas on how you can effectively play the role expected of the media in the electoral and democratic processes as universally agreed that the media should relay information to citizens required to enable them to make informed judgments, monitor government and others to reduce the abuse of power, report political day to day activities as well as covering election campaigns.
“Provide information about registration and voting. Crystalize public opinions, give a voice to interest vocal groups, and provide a forum within which a public debate takes place.
“The citizens make their choices on the basis of reliable information. But it is the journalists that work in the media houses that make this possible. We need to organise this programme for journalists to look at different aspects of our responsibility in the electoral process”.
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Also speaking in the same vain, Dr. Akin Akingbulu, Executive Director CEMESO, who noted that the event was among the series of activities specially designed to focus on the off-cycle elections would cover about eights states.
According to him, it is a way of strengthening Nigeria’s democracy by equiping journalists for better out put.
“The task of strengthening our democracy is an unending one. Democratic governance continues to be a work in progress and citizens and institutions have the responsibility to continuously lay building blocks towards its consolidation.
“The media is one institution which occupies an important position in the conduct of elections.
“The position is so central that it inconceivable to conduct a free and fair election in today’s world without the media.
“Through providing information, conducting analysis, providing platforms of discourse for the wide range of electoral actors, the media facilitates knowledge acquisition and understanding of the electoral process as well as the performance of responsibilities, such as making informed choices in the elections.
“I believe that for the media in Nigeria to continue to perform its responsibilities in the electoral process, at least two things are essential: it must continue to re-equip.”
Emphasising the need for the media to continue to engage its environment, Akingbolu added that “media professionals should continue to enrich knowledge and hone skills, or generally to update capacity. By environment engagement.
“I mean that professionals should continuously develop a thorough understanding of their practice environment, including the behavious of other actors or institutions with whom they interact and challenges that stand in the way of professionalism.
“Our two organisations, IPC and CEMESO, have a shared vision on continually equipping the journalist and improving the practice environment.
“Hence, the thrust of this engagement here in Yenegoa: enrich professionalism, deepen the capacity for delivery of voter education, through interaction with representations of key institutions, having targeted conversations on important issues in the electoral process and our election coverage experiences”.
Dr. Titilayo Osuagwu of the University of Port Harcourt presented two papers at the event, including ‘Bringing Gender Perspective to Bear on the Reportage of Bayelsa Gov’noship Election’, and ‘Understanding Conflict and reporting for peace in Bayelsa governorship election’.
At the interactive session, between journalists and some stakeholders of the forthcoming guber elections, Mr. Wilfred Ifogah, INEC Head of Voter Education and SP Asinimsu Botswata, Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command represented INEC and the Police, respectively.
