Press Centre, Others Demand Credibility From Electoral Institutions

The International Press Centre (IPC) and other stakeholders have called for stronger credibility and accountability from Nigeria’s electoral institutions to rebuild public trust in the country’s democratic process.

This call was made during the public presentation of a report by IPC on its media-led nation-wide dialogue series on rebuilding trust in Nigeria’s electoral process, electoral institutions, and elections in Abuja yesterday.

The report, conducted between 2023 and 2025 across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones, was convened under Component 4:

Support to Media of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II) project, for which IPC serves as the lead implementing partner.

Giving an overview of the Safeguarding electoral integrity for Democratic Consolidation Report-IPS’s media-led multi-stakeholder dialogues conducted across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, Mr Lanre Arogundade, executive director of IPC said credible elections require all stakeholders to uphold transparency, accountability, and integrity for democracy to flourish.

He said; “Credible elections demand cooperation, transparency, and accountability from all actors institutional, political, and civic alike.

“Every stakeholder must therefore reappraise, reform, and recommit to integrity for democracy to thrive.”

Also speaking, the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, decried the deepening poverty and poor governance across Nigeria, describing it as a deliberate affliction by those in public office.

Ajaero lamented that insecurity and neglect have worsened the living conditions of ordinary citizens, calling for urgent reforms to restore dignity and equity to the populace.

He urged the media to rise above propaganda and manipulation, stressing that journalists must serve as a voice for the voiceless and a mirror that reflects our reality, saying that the media’s integrity is vital in holding politicians accountable, exposing electoral malpractice, and empowering citizens with truth.

For her part, Stella Nwofia, Programme Manager of IPC, said the gathering was not only to launch its reports, but to reaffirm its commitment to building trust in the dual pillars of electoral institutions and elections.

Citing findings from IPC’s EU-backed dialogues, Nwofia stressed that trust in institutions is directly tied to the quality, consistency, and credibility of information shared before, during, and after elections.

She urged journalists to move beyond routine election coverage to “Interrogate narratives, amplify marginalised voices, and hold all actors political parties, security agencies, electoral bodies, and civil society accountable.”

Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Okey Ibeanu of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said trust provides the necessary solidarity for holding the democratic system together, adding that it is sustained by citizens’ belief that leaders will keep to the rules and ensure that the right things are done.

According to him, elections themselves are built on trust that the rules will be upheld, that those in charge have the capacity to deliver credible polls, and that failures in the system will be addressed.

“When this trust breaks down, the electoral process might as well be a system of robbery.”

Prof. Ibeanu stressed that rebuilding electoral confidence requires looking beyond INEC to include the judiciary, legislature, security agencies, and the media all of which play crucial roles in shaping public trust.

Linking Nigeria’s trust deficit to its colonial history, Ibeanu noted that citizens still tend to place greater confidence in traditional institutions than in those inherited from colonial governance.

He called for “a social reconstruction that rebuilds trust across the board among citizens, and between citizens and institutions.”

The event also featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IPC, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP).

The agreement aims to create an enabling environment for impactful, inclusive, and gender-sensitive election reporting in the public interest. It also seeks to set performance benchmarks that will enhance accountability and professional standards, particularly in the coverage of gender-related electoral issues and campaign commitments.

Also speaking, Aisha Ibrahim, the National Chairperson, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), emphasised the need for inclusive and trusted elections where women are visible and active as candidates, observers, and commentators. She said amplifying women’s voices helps build social trust and legitimacy in democracy.

She urged electoral bodies, security agencies, and political parties to uphold transparency, fairness, and open communication with the public including transparent result counting, transmission, and fair dispute resolution to restore public confidence.

She called for strengthening workplace standards, tackling gender-based violence, and partnering with civil society, tech groups, and schools to promote informed voting. She also urged the use of social media to foster peace, transparency, and participation.