Chairman, the Independent National Electoral CommissionProf. Mahmood Yakubu, said on Monday that the commission was determined to make the 2019 election the best ever in the country.
Yakubu said the planning process for the 2019 polls had been concluded with the 2017-2021 strategic plan and programme of action.
Speaking on the “Role of media in the Nigeria electoral process” during the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria’s (BON) 69th General Assembly at Oriental Hotel, Lagos, the INEC boss called for the support of all stakeholders to help the commission achieve the goal.
He particularly elicited for the support of the media, urging for the creation of necessary awareness to induce reasonable voter participation in the elections.
According to him, the critical planning process like the Continuous Voters Registration and collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) have been transparently handled.
Yakubu said, “It is possible that the 2019 general election would be one of the most intensive media focus event in our political history. Stakeholders are likely to rely heavily on broadcast media as well as social media.
“For this reason, combating hate speech, fake news and other forms of reporting likely to inflame passion and trigger crisis will be of critical importance to the peaceful conduct of the election.”
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, said the media’s role in information management was critical to ensuring a hitch-free election.
He said with over 23 million people living in Lagos, government could not afford to ignore the media in sustaining the tempo of growth.
“As a government, we know the potency of the media and its conception. So, we cannot afford to play idly because the media is the means to engage the public. It will assist the government to achieve its aims and aspiration.
“Right now, we are at a critical stage in the process of governance and wish to call the media to play their part. The media should help INEC to disseminate all the information needed to ensure success.
“In this critical time, the media in general must be objective in its reportage. The media as the conscience of the people cannot not afford to fail in its responsibility to the people. It should create numerous partners for the dissemination of knowledge,” Ambode said.
Another guest speaker, Dr. Christopher Kolade, who spoke on “Hate Speech and Nigeria Broadcast Industry”, said Nigeria must avoid comments that could tear the country apart.
He added that hate speech was negative expression people had in their mind, which they ventilate against others.
Kolade said hate speech would not promote peace and unity that the country sought.
“Therefore, to stay together, we must avoid hate speech. Incidentally, the media has been liberalised, which allow comments to get across easily through social media and the conventional methods.
“The broadcast industry should, therefore, engage the people on the negative consequences of hate speech. We have to conduct ourselves like people in a democratic society because democracy is the ability to organise ourselves in acceptable ways.”
BON Chairman, John Momoh, said the media would continue to play critical role in the country’s electoral system, noting that the media and politics have close ties.
MOmoh, who is the chairman of Channels Television, said that media’s agenda-setting provides perspective for political debate, stressing that the media must illuminate issues that would promote the success of 2019 election.
He said, “As the country approaches electioneering campaign period, it will not be out of place to remind ourselves that the election period can best take place in an environment of peace and tranquility.
“In crisis situation, it is the responsibility of a broadcaster not to fuel the situation by broadcasting divisive rhetoric that threatens and compromises the corporate existence of Nigeria as a sovereign state.”
