By Bukola Olamona

As Ondo State gears up for its 2024 gubernatorial elections, journalists in the state have been urged to focus on credible and issue-based reporting during the electoral period.

This call was made during a two-day media dialogue organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media & Society (CEMESO), held at the Royal Birds Hotel and Towers in Alagbaka, Akure.

The workshop aimed to sharpen the skills of journalists, ensuring they provide professional election coverage that is devoid of misinformation, disinformation, and sensationalism.

The emphasis was placed on equipping media practitioners with the right tools to steer the agenda towards critical issues and guarantee credible reporting throughout the election cycle.

Journalists from diverse platforms, including broadcast, print, and online media, were trained on election reporting best practices, with sessions stressing fairness, accuracy, and ethical information dissemination.

Media experts also encouraged participants to engage candidates by asking the right questions, focusing on manifestos that resonate with the public’s interests.

In his opening remarks, the Executive Director of IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade, highlighted the media’s pivotal role in safeguarding the integrity of elections.

He stated that elections are the cornerstone of any democratic society and that journalists must be equipped to report them effectively.

He further emphasised that capacity-building workshops like this are crucial in preparing journalists to report elections in a manner that fortifies democracy.

Arogundade also stressed the need for collaboration between stakeholders to ensure that ethical standards are upheld by the media during the upcoming Ondo State election.

He pointed out that voter education is an essential part of the election process and that the media plays a key role in informing the electorate of their rights and responsibilities.

Mr Taiwo Obe, the Founder of the Journalism Clinic, spoke on the importance of asking the right questions and crafting impactful stories during electoral coverage, urging journalists to stay focused on core election issues, avoiding sensationalism.

CEMESO’s Executive Director, Dr Akin Akingbulu, echoed these sentiments, underlining the significance of off-cycle elections in Nigeria’s broader electoral landscape.

He noted that media coverage during such elections could set the tone for larger national polls, with credible journalism playing a crucial role in maintaining the overall integrity of the electoral process.

The State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Leke Adegbite, praised IPC for its ongoing efforts to enhance the capacity of journalists.

He assured the organisers that the participants were committed to putting their newly acquired knowledge to practical use in their election coverage.

Senior Lecturer at Elizade University, Dr Tunde Fajimbola, focused on the media’s role in addressing the key issues in the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election, while the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Ondo State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, provided an update on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) preparations.

She confirmed that INEC was ready to deliver a free, fair, and credible election come November 16, 2024, with 2,053,061 registered voters in the state. She also revealed that the media accreditation portal had been opened.

The initiative is part of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGNII) project, under which IPC serves as the lead partner in supporting the media.

The project aims to ensure that journalists are well-prepared to cover elections professionally, contributing to the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.