By Akinwale Kasali
The Chairman of the In independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has extolled the role played by the media in the conduct of free and fair elections in the country.
The INEC boss made the assertion at a three-day Strategic meeting with select journalists, Resident Electoral Commissioners, REC, and Administrative Secretaries to review the 2023 General Elections and the way forward for future elections.
The meeting was also held as part of the commission’s preparations for the governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states later this year.
In his address Prof. Yakubu hailed the media pivotal role as one of the commission’s critical stakeholders, and a link between it and the electorates.
He stressed that the review is necessary to access its performances and challenges as it prepares for the Governorship Election in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo State, as well as the 2027 general election.
He expressed satisfaction with the performance of the commission’s officials during the 2023 polls, adding
that the media also played a significant role in voter educations, and assisting the commission in policy formations.
“We as a commission are convinced that the media are part of the discussion for the overall improvement of the Electoral process based on their field observations and report received from people they deployed to the field during the election,” Yakubu said.
The focus of the meeting, the INEC boss stated include; Continuous Voters Registration, Apathy at Polling Unit, Logistics, Polling Unit Administration On Election Conduct of Regular Staff, and Advocate Officials during election, Conduct of Security Personnel, Accreditation of Voters especially those that operate in state and local government level and movement, Access for Journalist into the voting centres, the role of technology in voter registration, amongst other.
The INEC boss, however, blamed the voters apathy witnessed during the last mostly on security agencies including, the Police, Navy, Airforce, Army, Civil Defence and other para-military bodies.
He said the problem would however be looked into in its subsequent election to bring about inclusiveness with every voter exercising their franchise.
In the same vein, the Chairman, Planning Monitoring and Strategy Committee INEC, Prof. Rhodes Gumus said the Media played a vital role in electoral process through timely and effective
information dissemination and public enlightenment.
Gumus stated that without the media safeguarding the credibility and transparency of electoral process will be a difficult task.
Humus added that the meeting is also designed to receive feedback from the media and also highlight how the media can work together to ensure the Nation’s stability during and after the election.
Lagos State INEC Administrative Secretary, Adebisi Ajayi said the meeting was necessary ahead the upcoming governorship elections in some states.
He applauded the 36 states’ Administrative Secretaries including FCT,
for their coordination during the election.
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