DSIEC tasks media for quality reportage of forthcoming LG Elections

Delta State Independent Electoral Commission(DSIEC) has enjoined the media to give quality reportage of the forthcoming local government elections to give good democratic process. The Commission gave this charge on Thursday at one day capacity building workshop for journalists organized by the  Commission in conjunction with the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Delta State Council.

Speaking on the roles the media as regards the reporting of the elections, the Chairman of Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, Sir Dr Jerry Agbaike said electoral malpractice which included the introduction of armed non-state actors, blackmail political culture which encourage and rewards for impunity, information mismanagement and negative reporting have turned elective political contenders into deadly violent competition instead of serving as the mechanism for democratic management of Nigeria ethnic diversity for the promotion and protection of electoral integrity.

According to him, the media have a role to play to ensure that the electorate and the public are given accurate information about the elections to forestall the breakdown of law and order in elections. He said misinformation that is orchestrated  as rumour on whatsapp or twitter most often picked by mainstream  media houses or influential  political figures to perpetrate pre-existing political cleavages, identify politics, insecurity among others saying, there is a need to correct these anormally.

He said: "Social media have robustly triggered misinformation, sharing of falsehoods with deliberate intent to mislead and promote selfish political agenda, deliberate translation with the use of automated networks, manipulated audio and video materials" .

He said, on the part of the Commission, it is driven by the strong ethics of quality, justice, fairness, and high integrity as impartial arbiters to deliver on its mandate to conduct free, fair  transparent, credible and peaceful local government elections on July 13, 2024 adding that, appropriate machinery has been put in place which include having the list of successful candidates who fell within the field of selection after training of all applicants who participated in the recent training of prospective adhoc staff among others.

Sir Dr Agbaike said the security and law enforcement agencies are already collaborating with the Commission to ensure results oriented elections.

On his part, the Chairman of NUJ, Delta State Council, Comrade Churchill Oyowe said the responsibility of Journalists goes beyond mere reporting of the elections but involves educating the public, providing accurate and unbiased information and holding stakeholders accountable. He said:" The workshop aims to equip us with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform these duties effectively".

Comrade Oyowe thanked the Commission for the programme just as he thanked the resource person, Professor Godwin Oboh for coming to share his expertise with the Journalists.

The programme which is themed :"Making A Successful Electoral Process Through Effective Coverage And Reportage", a lecture delivered by Professor Godwin Oboh, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, Benson Idahosa University, Edo State, climaxed with questions and answers.