The Executive Director, International Press Centre (IPC), Lanre Arogundade, has charged journalists to be guided by the laws and codes governing elections.
He also charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to conduct themselves within the confines of the Constitution, urging them not to take sides with any political party or individuals.
Arogundade spoke in Benin on Friday at a two-day dialogue with media practitioners and critical stakeholders in the Edo State governorship electoral process.
He said the programme was part of the activities being implemented by the IPC with support from the European Union for democratic governance in Nigeria.
According to him, the project recognises elections as crucial building block for sustainable democratic practices in any democracy.
Arogundade said for a free, fair, credible and peaceful governorship election in Edo State, all stakeholders must perform their roles without any bias, bearing in their minds the citizens’ interests.
He said: “It is the public interest that should constitute our guiding principles, and not any other interest, be it partisan, cultural, religion or political.”
The executive director who charged the police and other security agencies to ensure safety of journalists during and after the election, reminded the INEC and security agencies of the Nigeria media code of election coverage in the country.
“Let me at this point draw the attention of the representative of the INEC, the police and the NSCDC to the fact that the Nigeria media code of election coverage requires the institutions to provide a conducive environment for the media and journalists to carry out their duties during elections.
