INEC Urges Media To Resist Fake News, Misinformation

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has accredited 94 media organisations and 1,255 personnel to cover the off-cycle elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states.

The governorship elections will hold on November 11, 2023.

INEC added that “In the next few days, the accredited media organisations will be notified of the date for the collection of the identity cards for their officials.”

It urged media practitioners in the country to form a bulwark against fake news in the country while strictly adhering to the ethics of journalism.

This is even as the nation’s electoral body called on all media organisations to strictly adhere to the ethics of their profession.

The chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, spoke yesterday at a quarterly meeting with media executives ahead of the governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states yesterday in Abuja.

Yakubu said while the commission welcomes reports on elections, it will not go out of its way to censor media reports.

He said, “We welcome reports on the election. At the same time, you should form a bulwark against fake news.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission does not believe in censorship. We have said repeatedly that the best antidote to fake news is greater openness and regular and consistent engagement with stakeholders. We will continue to work together in this regard.”

Giving further details on plans for the elections, he said: “About two weeks ago, the Commission conducted a mock accreditation involving actual voters in designated polling units in the three states.

“By doing so, we tested the efficacy of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for both biometric authentication of voters and the upload of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

“Some of you observed the mock accreditation exercise and viewed the results on the IReV portal. We have received no adverse report so far.

“By this, we are encouraged that the test was successful and we look forward to improved performance of the BVAS in voter accreditation and result upload in the forthcoming Governorship elections and beyond.”

He said, “Election is a multi-stakeholder activity. In discharging our responsibilities, we will continue to engage with all stakeholders. One of such engagements is with the security agencies.

“In previous elections, media organisations have expressed concern about the safety of journalists, technical staff, and protection of the equipment you deploy on Election Day.

“Similarly, you have on several occasions urged the Commission to intercede with the security agencies to grant you unimpeded access to polling and collation locations. I want to reassure you that we will continue to do so as we engage with the security agencies both at the national level and in the three states”.

Yakubu added that the commission considers the elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi governorship as critical to the commission.