Group photograph of Execututive Members of NUJ State Council & officials of DSIEC
Barely a week for the conduct of 2023 Local Government elections in Delta State, the Chairman, the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, Sir Dr. Jerry Agbaike said the media have great roles to play towards the success of the elections. Sir Dr. Agbaike stated this in one day capacity workshop for Journalists in the state organized by NUJ, Delta State Council in conjunction with the Commission which was held on Thursday in Asaba, the state capital.
NUJ Delta State Council Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe delivering his address at the programme
According to him ,it is the role of the media to give accurate information on the conduct of the election to ensure there is peace in the democratic process. He said, most often, misinformation has paved way for rumours to hold sway in elections process which doesn’t give room for peaceful atmosphere in an election. He said:”Misinformation that is orchestrated as rumours on whatsapp or twitter are often picked up by mainstream media houses or influential political figures to perpetrate pre-existing political cleavages, identify politics insecurity, political sabotage and election discrediting-all of these vices need to be urgently corrected and this underscores the importance of this workshop..”
DSIEC boss, Sir Dr. Jerry Agbaike delivering his address
The DSIEC boss said on the Commission’s part, it is prepared to conduct a free, fair and credible election which is slated for 13th July, 2024. According to him, the list of successful candidates who are within the field of selection after the training of all applicants who participated in their recent training of prospective ad hoc staff is in progress. He said:”On our part ,as a Commission, DSIEC is driven by the strong ethics of equity, justice, fairness and high integrity as impartial arbiters to deliver on its mandate to conduct a free fair, transparent, credible and peaceful local government elections on July 13,2024“
He said among other things, the Commission is in touch with the relevant security agencies to achieve the mandate of the Commission on that day and therefore seeks the co-operation of Deltans to enable the Commission achieve its aims and objectives as far the election is concerned. He said:”Security and law enforcement agencies are already collaborating with DSIEC to neutralize and diminish political threats, provide adequate security and ensure peaceful elections”.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman, Delta State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Churchill Oyowe charged his fellow Journalists to take the workshop seriously, engage and ask questions to equip selves as far as the election reportage is concerned.
According to him, the responsibility of the Journalists is not just covering the election but they are to educate and feed the public with the accurate and unbiased information and hold the stakeholders accountable. He expressed gratitude for the Commission to have organized the programme just as he thanked the resource person, Professor Godwin Oboh for gracing the occasion to share his wealth of experience in Journalism with Journalists.
Members of NUJ in attendance
In his lecture titled: “Making A Successful Electoral Process Through Effective Coverage And Reportage”, Professor Godwin Oboh, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, Benson Idahosa University, Edo State said, Journalists should not only give accurate information on conduct of the election but should not favour any political party or politicians in their reportage rather, they should be objective as that is only way there would be peace after the elections in the state. The programme was rounded off with questions and answers.