Imo Guber Election: INEC engages media on electoral coverage

Photo: Prof Sylvia Agu, the Imo State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner with Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the
Commission’s National Commissioner and member Information and Voter Education Committee, during the Media Executives, interactive training meeting in Owerri Imo, State capital

By Everest Ezihe, Owerri

As part of her efforts to ensure credible elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has commenced the training of Media Executives likely to participate in the monitoring and reporting of the Imo State off circle gubernatorial election scheduled to hold on Saturday 11th November,2023 in all the polling booths in the State.
Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the Commission’s National Commissioner and member Information and Voter Education Committee said this in Owerri, Imo State capital during a special interactive training meeting with selected media executives in the State.
According to him, “this strategic engagement with this calibre of Media personnel is very apt coming ahead of the scheduled 11th November Governorship election in the state.
“The Commission has a long-standing partnership with the media in the country which is being consolidated with an engagement such as this.
“We sincerely appreciate the support of the media in providing voter education, electoral information and your involvements in other activities of the Commission.
“The Media remains one of our critical stakeholders, such that we have over 100 members of INEC Press Corps from various media organisations in the country who cover activities of the Commission on a regular basis. “Beyond voter and civic education, the Commission frequently consults the media ahead of the formulation of policies and during the implementation of activities so as to keep you abreast of the happenings in the electoral system as well as in the Commission.
Aside regular coverage of activities of the Commission, media organisations are also accredited to cover elections and electoral activities during General Elections and off-cycle elections such as we are having in Owerri in less than two months’ time. Apart from the general functions of the media which basically is to educate, inform and entertain, as well as reporting Commission’s activities, we are convinced that as citizens you should be part of the discussion for the overall improvement of our electoral process based on your field observations.
That is why it is fundamental that we continually and continuously interact with the media for effective dissemination of information concerning our processes and procedures and also our plans for free, fair, credible and all-inclusive elections.
“As you are aware, on the 11th day of November 2023, the Commission will conduct the off-cycle Governorship election in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states and preparations for these elections have been ongoing.
“The timetable and schedule of activities for the off-cycle Governorship election was released on the 25th of October, 2022, over one year before the opening of polls on Saturday 11th November, 2023.
“This was done in line with our belief that early and proper preparation will give all stakeholders involved in the election, as well as the Commission ample time to plan and to have elections that meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people” he assured.
Haruna pointed out that in reporting the activities of the Commission, pre-election, election, and post-election activities, the Commission often pleads with the media to be factual, objective, and professional in their reportage.
He advised Journalists covering the elections that on no account should they interfere with the processes and procedures of voting or in any way distract Presiding Officers in the performance of their duties.
The Commission’s top brass officer further enjoined media practitioners that on no account should they attempt to know or report on the way someone has voted.
He made it pointblank that, “the secrecy of the ballot is at the heart of the democratic process. The media must also not make any declaration or return of any election as it is the exclusive preserve of the Commission” he warned.
Earlier in her welcome address, Prof. Sylvia Agu, the Imo State Resident Electoral Commission expressed gratitude in welcoming all the stakeholders to the very important engagement with media executives in Imo State.
According to her, “I am more delighted considering the assemblage of great men and women of the pen pushing profession, who will hear from one of their own, an expert in his own right, Mallam Haruna.
“This engagement is packaged by the Commission to enlighten the media and her executives on the guidelines, processes and procedures ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo State.
“The Commission holds the media in high esteem as great partners in progress and has therefore packaged this programme to enhance the awareness and participation of voters in the state, so in telling our stories, I urge you all to emphasize the gains of participation and need to protect our democracy to the electorate” she reassured.
In his good will message, Comrade Ifeanyi Nwanguma, the Chairman, Nigeria Union Of Journalists,Imo State Council said that, “It is with total humility that I most sincerely welcome you to this vital and timely Media Executives Meeting put together by INEC.
“It is important to note that without viable media, Democracy and Development will never thrive because the Media has remained the Oxygen that drives Democracy and Development all over the World.
“I strongly believe that this media Executives Meeting will provide the much needed avenue for Media Executives in Imo State to x-ray the current state of media in Imo State and other burning issues in our State.
“I must sincerely commend INEC for organizing this meeting and wish to place on record that NUJ Imo State Council under my leadership will continue to support all the good programmes and oolicies of INEC to ensure free, fair and credible Governorship election in Imo State because we are partners in Progress.
“I wish to remind all Journalists in Imo State that it is not our mandate to announce election results, constitutionally, it is the responsibility of INEC to do so.
“I humbly wish to use this unique opportunity to appeal to Security agencies in Imo State to see journalists as partners in progress during and after the Governorship election in the state because I strongly believe together, we can achieve violence free and credible Governorship election come November 11th” he pointed out.