In the lead-up to the Ondo state off-cycle governorship election, the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) initiative partnered with the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) to organise a successful series of dialogues aimed at enhancing the role of the media in ensuring a credible, inclusive, and transparent electoral process.
These events, which took place on September 10 and 11, 2024, brought together media professionals, electoral bodies, and key stakeholders.
As part of EU-SDGN’s support to Media, the dialogue focused on promoting ethical and balanced media coverage during elections, encouraging professional responsibility among journalists. The EU-SDGN initiative continues to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic processes through its support of media that are committed to transparency and accountability, in line with the recommendations from the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Nigeria.
The IPC-led Media and Election Stakeholders’ Dialogue addressed key areas such as compliance with the Electoral Act, the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, and the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage. Participants discussed early warning signs in the socio-political context of Ondo State, gender-sensitive reporting, and issue-based electoral coverage. Special attention was given to creating strategies for journalists to cover elections in a fair and responsible manner, ensuring that they play a critical role in sustaining democratic values.
Key partners like the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State chapter, contributed to discussions on important issues such as journalist safety, civic education, and promoting violence-free elections. Institutional stakeholders, including representatives from the Ondo State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police Command, and the National Orientation Agency, also took part in the dialogue, reinforcing the importance of collaboration to ensure a transparent and peaceful election.
Following the IPC-hosted event, CEMESO facilitated a series of media engagements across TV and radio platforms within the state. These engagements focused on critical election issues, such as voter education, the preparations of electoral bodies, and ensuring balanced and accurate reporting in the lead-up to Election Day.
Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of IPC, highlighted the importance of these events, stating: “Off-cycle elections like Ondo 2024 often face unique challenges, including low public engagement. By fostering collaboration between media and election stakeholders, we have helped ensure greater transparency, accountability, and increased citizen awareness.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Akin Akingbulu, Executive Director of CEMESO, emphasised the role of the media in shaping public discourse, adding: “Through our engagement with media and election stakeholders, we addressed crucial topics such as electoral reforms and voter rights. By ensuring these discussions remained central to public discourse, we contributed to enhancing the credibility and transparency of the electoral process.”
With up to 60 journalists from broadcast, print, and online media participating in the EU-SDGN-backed initiative, the Ondo governorship election scheduled for November 2024 is set to benefit from responsible, professional media coverage. The dialogues and media engagements have played a significant role in upholding democratic principles and fostering an informed electorate in the region.
