Media, CSOs urge stronger partnerships to safeguard Nigeria’s electoral integrity

Media practitioners, civil society organisations (CSOs), election observers and communication professionals have called for stronger collaboration, enhanced transparency and improved protection for journalists to strengthen the credibility of elections in Nigeria.

The call was made in a communiqué issued at the end of a Media-CSO Roundtable on Building Stronger Media-CSO Partnerships for Credible, Peaceful and Inclusive Elections held Tuesday at the United Nations House in Abuja.

The event was convened by Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Participants said stronger partnerships between the media and civil society were necessary to address challenges in electoral reporting and build a more transparent and secure information environment during elections.

Among the key resolutions adopted was the establishment of a verified central platform for timely electoral information accessible to both media organisations and CSOs.

The stakeholders also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct mandatory mock tests of election technologies before elections and formally recognise the media as a key stakeholder in the electoral process.

“INEC should formally recognize the media as a key stakeholder in the electoral process,” the communiqué stated.

Participants further recommended the creation of a joint media-CSO platform for sharing verified information, resources and content, while encouraging CSOs to directly provide information to media organisations for wider dissemination.

To improve election coverage in underserved areas, the communiqué proposed deploying CSO field personnel as correspondents where media presence is limited.

On journalist safety, stakeholders called for the establishment of a Security Accord involving media organisations, CSOs, security agencies and other relevant actors.

“The Accord should provide a formal framework for protecting journalists during election coverage,” the communiqué said.

Participants also advocated the creation of an Inter-Agency Consultative Security Committee with media and CSOs serving as embedded members and called for regular engagement among INEC, security agencies, media organisations and civil society groups ahead of elections.

The roundtable highlighted the need for continuous professional development for journalists, including training on election reporting, artificial intelligence tools, fact-checking and combating misinformation and disinformation.

The communiqué urged all media organisations to establish dedicated fact-checking desks, stressing that “verification should be treated as a core editorial responsibility during elections.”

To tackle voter apathy, participants called for intensified public enlightenment campaigns and closer collaboration between media organisations and CSOs on civic education and voter awareness initiatives.

The stakeholders also drew attention to the welfare and mental health of journalists covering elections, especially those deployed to conflict-prone areas.

They recommended the establishment of structured psychosocial support systems, access to post-trauma counselling and the inclusion of mental health awareness in pre-deployment preparations.

“The physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing of journalists should be recognized as essential to professional, ethical and effective election coverage,” the communiqué noted.

Participants further advocated insurance coverage for election personnel and equipment, while calling for greater recognition of videographers, camera operators and other technical staff in accreditation, security planning and deployment arrangements.

In their concluding remarks, the participants reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening democratic processes through responsible journalism and civil society engagement.

“We reaffirm our commitment to a free, safe, well-resourced and professionally equipped media environment as a cornerstone of credible elections and democratic governance in Nigeria,” the communiqué stated.

The recommendations were subsequently commended to INEC, security agencies, media regulatory bodies, civil society organisations, media proprietors and development partners for immediate implementation.

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