Elections: Report what you see, INEC has nothing to hide, Yakubu charges media professionals

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has charged media organisations and professionals to report what they see during an election while declaring that the Commission has nothing to hide.

Yakubu made the declaration during the Commission’s 2023 post-election review meeting with media executives in Lagos on Wednesday.

While also tasking the media with constructive criticism, he described media organisations and executives as critical partners and stakeholders whose role in an election goes beyond voter and civic education.

The INEC boss pledged the commission’s continued engagement with the media organisations as well as the Guild of Editors, Guild of Online Publishers, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria and the Newspaper Proprietors of Nigeria.

He said, “Like previous elections, diverse opinions have been expressed about the conduct of the 2023 general elections. Such opinions are expected and the Commission welcomes them all so far their purpose is to improve the conduct of the election and consolidate our democracy.

“So at this stage, I will like to urge all of you to feel free to critically evaluate the elections and I assure all of you of our readiness to go back to the drawing board.

“We want you to be critical of the elections and the commission will appreciate such criticism. So please be as creative as you can be and also offer some suggestions so that we would continue to improve on the process.

“There is a long-standing partnership between the commission and the media. As I informed a similar meeting with the media was held in Abuja last week. You remain a critical partner and stakeholder. Beyond voter and civic education, we consult the media ahead of the formulation of policies or the implementation of our activities.

“Media organisations are also accredited to cover the elections and electoral activities. Beyond that, we are convinced that you are citizens first and foremost before your professional callings as media men. We are therefore convinced that you should be part of the discussion for the overall improvement of our electoral process based on your field observations and report received from the personnel deployed in various elections.

“Today, we have emptied the entire commission from Abuja to attend this meeting in Lagos. So this is your opportunity to tell us what you have seen and what we can do to continue to improve the process.

“The commission has nothing to hide and it is with this kind of interaction we can improve on the process. Clearly, there are many positives coming from the 2023 general elections but at the same time, we also have many challenges.

“The commission is aware that many aspects of the elections are before the election petition tribunal while we should be careful not to touch on issues that are clearly subjudice before the tribunal nationwide, it is appropriate to review the election broadly.

“More specifically from the first-time report from the correspondents you deployed during the election and the series of analysis from citizens and studio analysis by your guests. We will like to hear your suggestions about the strength and weaknesses of the processes and procedures on a variety of issues.

“The commission is excited about this meeting because some of the media houses that are here covered the election in local Nigerian languages with a promise to citizens in villages and communities to air their views on the election. We consider their opinions as important to the electoral process and complementary to the views expressed on national and international media platforms.”

He continued, “I wish to assure all media organisations and professionals that the commission will continue to engage with them as we have been doing all along. We will continue to strengthen our partnership with the Guild of Editors, the Guild of Online Publishers, the Broadcasting media through the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria and the print media through the Newspaper Proprietors of Nigeria.

“At this meeting, I will like to appeal to you to discuss all issues relating to the elections and electoral process and proffer suggestions for improvement. At this meeting, we will review the election and in doing so, we do more of listening rather than explaining and talking. Once again, I welcome you all t this meeting. We do not take your presence for granted.”

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