INEC Engages Media Executives Ahead Of Edo Gov’Ship Election
By Simeon OSAJIE
As part of its preparations and commitment to a transparent and credible election in Edo State come September 21 governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday Thursday 22nd August hosted a crucial forum for media executives in Benin City, the State capital.
The event which took place at Vichigate Hotel on Ihama Road Benin City provided a platform for dialogue and the dissemination of vital information about the Edo Stateq1 gubernatorial election.
In his welcome address, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Edo State, Dr. Anugbum Onuaha, whose speech was delivered by the Administrative Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbodu explained the importance of media collaboration, stating that the meeting is to interface with the media that would enable the Commission to carry out the communication that is needed by Nigerians.
In his keynote address, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun who was represented by Dr. Onuaha, highlighted the media’s pivotal role in shaping public perception and maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
According to him, “As the fourth estate of the realm, the media is not just a conveyor of information but also a vital player in the democratic process, particularly during elections.”
The forum which also addressed the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across the eighteen local government council areas of the State, called on those who participated in the last continuous voter registration organized by INEC to collect their cards commenced on August 22, 2024, across all 192 Wards in the State and will continue until September 8, 2024, transitioning to local government area offices after August 26.
At the event, INEC also showcased its technological advancements through a presentation on the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which is designed to enhance voter accreditation and prevent electoral fraud.
The Head of ICT/VR, Engr. Akan Lawrence assured the media executives that BVAS is robust and capable of transmitting election results even in remote areas without network coverage, kudos to its offline mode feature.
Barr. Amadi Rita who discussed the legal framework guiding the election, particularly the Electoral Act 2022, explained the Act’s role in ensuring a free, fair and credible election. She encouraged media executives to familiarize themselves with the Act so as to better report and analyze the electoral process.
The event was concluded with discussions on the online accreditation of media organizations, the role of social media and the challenges posed by misinformation.
The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi while explaining the role of INEC in electoral process that is leveraging on the global reach of social media to disseminate timely electoral information to its audience, noting the advantages of social media for disseminating accurate information whilst cautioning against the spread of fake news.
