CDD, INEC and NUJ receive commendation as participants got told to apply safety measures

    Members of the communique drafting        committee.

By Bernadette Idalu
PORT HARCOURT- The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) yesterday received commendation for organizing a two day capacity building training on factual reportage for Journalists and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the South- South geopolitical region.

The training focussed on conflict sensitive reporting, 2023 general election and countering fake news.

A participant, Ozekizibe Etete of the Niger- Delta Television (NDTV), Bayelsa State, during an interview with  stardustonline22.blogspot.com stated that the training has helped to broaden her knowledge of peace reportage/peace journalism.She pledged to put deliberate efforts into her reportage to highlight issues which foster peace. 

She encouraged Journalists to be sensitive with their choice and use of language especially those which stereotype people and their regions. She encouraged the Nigerian populace to cut out inflammatory words that promote crisis in society during the 2023 electoral  process.

A resource person from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Mr. Chibuike Utaka who mentored participants on, "Conflict sensitive reporting in elections," cautioned against stereotyping people, use of inflammatory/foul descriptive language which display ethnic, religious, cultural beliefs or biases and the act of sending out unverified inflammatory information that can incite, cause fear or conflict in society.

He hammered on the need to scrutinize and tone down on use/choice of language to deescalate conflicts, eradicate misinformation, educate, sensitize  and pinpoint solutions, alongside speaking the truth while on the field of duty, covering activities of the electoral process.

Journalists were reminded of the need to remain apolitical, fact check before publishing reports for accuracy, keeping a low profile while gathering news, keeping safe to avoid becoming soft targets and casualties of the electoral process despite the pressure to turn in exclusive reports or breaking news from their establishments.

He reminded journalists to be safety conscious at all times due to the obvious fact that the Nigerian society was yet to celebrate its media heroes and heroines who died on the field of duty. He sued for vigilance.

A communique was later drafted which highlighted participants commendation of the 2022 Electoral Act; involvement by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) by provision of funding for the programme to make for a seamless electoral process in Nigeria.  

Participants called for.more voter/
Civic education for the electorate by CSOs to sensitize and inform them of their civic rights and obligations. Other issues raised include the need by INEC to be eagle eyed by ensuring that their servers do not get hacked into or slowed down while announcing results as well as ensuring that the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) addresses challenges that may arise which could lead to disenfranchisement of registered electorate as a result of the loss of their PVCs.

It was pinpointed to Journalists and CSOs to double check and fact check information to counter incidents of fake news.


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