2023: INEC tasks journalists to shun sensational reportage

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged media practitioners to shun sensational reportage before, during and after the 2023 general elections.

Mr Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, gave the charge in Gombe at a one-day capacity building workshop for journalists in the North-East.

Okoye said the call was imperative in view of the fact that the conduct of elections had national security implications.

“This implied that reporting election needs to be handled with an eye on conflict sensitivity and national peace and cohesion.

“Reporting election requires special skills and understanding of the centrality of election to Nigeria’s survival as a federal democracy where incontrovertible facts devoid of speculation, grandstanding and political maneuvers are more likely to be more helpful.”

Represented by Mrs Esther Chibuikem, Chief Information Officer, INEC Directorate Headquarters, Okoye also warned against fake news and urged them to resist the temptation of reporting unverified news.

“One false report that goes viral may have the potential of triggering a breakdown of law and order in a part or the whole of the country”.

According to him, it is in the interest of the country for the media to always seek for official clarification on serious national issues, especially when electoral matters are involved.

He urged the media to play their roles in a professional manner aimed at ensuring credible elections in the country in 2023.

He said delivering free, fair, peaceful, safe and credible elections should be viewed as a shared responsibility and partnership by all stakeholders.

“As the country moves closer to the 2023 general election, there are obvious landmines that the media must avoid; the media must avoid the breaking news syndrome.

“Some of the mainstream media are gradually gravitating towards online journalism with the attendant quest for breaking news, which are sometimes not properly verified and processed.

“The media must be circumspect in casting headlines and the thirst for sensational headlines. Sometimes, people look at the headlines and draw conclusions without looking at the body of the report.”

He also urged journalists to avoid tilting stories towards religious and ethnic narratives which could trigger conflicts.

While commending the role of the media in elections in the country, Okoye urged them to support the Commission in combating misinformation and fake news.

It was reported that the training with the theme: “Conflict Sensitive Reporting and 2023 General Elections” is being organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with INEC.