The Executive Director, International Press Centre, IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure credibility and transparency in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State.
Arogundade spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Saturday in Lagos, on the sidelines of the ongoing two-day interactive workshop for broadcast media anchors.
The event with the theme “Contextualizing INEC’s Responsibilities and Public Expectations Amid Fake News as Disinformation” brought together television and radio anchors nationwide.
He said that INEC must also develop an effective crisis communication strategy as part of its preparation.
According to him, IPC has organised two programmes with INEC in the state as parts of efforts to foster credible election.
He said that the last one was on effective communication, where IPC emphasised the need for open and adequate communication.
Arogundade said: “When it is election time, citizens are very hungry for information.
“A lot of things will be flying around and INEC should not be tired of explaining its own side on all the processes.
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“We have made INEC to understand that election is a form of conflict and the commission should be prepared for crisis communication, because things would happen in different places and they need to respond.
“We have also told INEC officials that they need to be able to monitor the media and do fact-checking.
“With this, when things are trending about INEC that is not correct or is distorted, they can be in a position to state their own side.”
According to him, INEC must understand that it does not even need to wait till when allegations are made before initiating programmes and briefing members of the public through the media on issues.
Arogundade said that the media had the responsibility to hold stakeholders in an election accountable.
“The media should constantly ask questions from INEC on the preparations, and the conduct of elections.
“The media should also ask questions from the political parties. Are they ready to embrace peace?
“The media should hold the political parties accountable for the peace accord,” he said.
Arogundade said that the media must also put on the front burner issues around inclusivity in elections.
