Since the preparations for Nigeria’s 2023 elections and after the exercise, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has continued to organise training and practical workshops for media practitioners on promoting peace during elections through conflict-sensitive reporting. On June 25 and 26, CAPPA organised a two-day capacity-building session for journalists in Makurdi, Benue State. The event, convened under the auspices of the European Union Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria, Phase Two (EU-SDGN II), attracted a variety of media practitioners drawn from print and online newspapers, radio, and television platforms.
The first day of the meeting featured presentations such as “The Role of the Media as Society’s Watchdog” by Abayomi Sarumi, CAPPA’s Senior Programme and Digital Campaign Manager, who described the media as a watchdog against corruption, electoral malpractices, and abuses of power. Speaking on Engaging the Media in Peace Building, Civic Rights, and Youth Inclusion, Zikora Ibeh, CAPPA’s Senior Programme and Research Manager, discussed the critical role of the media and its platforms in peacebuilding, promoting civic rights and ensuring youth inclusion in governance processes. The day-one session concluded with practical suggestions and an interactive discussion, during which media executives shared their experiences and challenges in the reportage of election matters.
The second day of the training began with a presentation titled Expanding Nigeria’s Democracy and Civic Space: Journalists as Drivers for Sustainable Democracy by Zikora Ibeh. Drawing from historical precedents and contemporary realities, she articulated the media’s role in fighting for Nigeria’s independence and how pre-independence activists in the country utilized the media to challenge oppressive colonial structures and empower their audience to defend the agitation for self-governance. This legacy, she noted, continued even after Nigeria gained independence, as the media played a crucial role in the agitations for Nigeria’s return to democratic rule after periods of military dictatorship. Advising journalists, she urged them to always adhere to the principles of accuracy, objectivity, verification, and neutrality in their reporting to strengthen electoral processes.
Shade Oyelade, CAPPA’s Policy and Legal Drafting Officer, led the next session of the meeting, focusing on “The Electoral Law and Provisions for the Media.” Her presentation examined Nigeria’s revised Electoral Act passed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022. Key provisions highlighted included the early disbursement of funds to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for election management, the requirement for party primaries to be conducted no later than 180 days before elections, the restriction that only aspirants can contest the conduct of party primaries, and the legitimisation of e-accreditation of voters and provision for electronic results transmission. She urged media practitioners to understand these developments and their implications in order to effectively educate the public and political candidates.
A third presentation, facilitated by Prof. Tunde Akanni, a veteran media practitioner and lecturer at Lagos State University (LASU), focused on “The Role of Mass Media in Sustaining Post-Election Peace.” The Professor emphasised that the media’s coverage of events following elections can either exacerbate tensions or foster reconciliation and a peaceful transition of power. He highlighted challenges such as financial pressure, partisan bias, lack of regulation, and security threats that can compromise the media’s effectiveness. Despite these pressures, he urged media practitioners to rise above them and embrace ethical journalism practices to promote peace and tolerance in society during elections.
Blessing Oladunjoye, a media consultant and publisher of BONews Services, delivered the fourth presentation of the day on “Inclusive Election Reporting: Understanding the Elections and the Disability Act.” She provided an in-depth review of the Electoral Act’s provisions for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and encouraged media practitioners to mainstream the voices of PWDs and vulnerable groups in election reporting. Additionally, she urged journalists to use their platforms to enforce compliance from election managers in providing accessible voting environments and tools to aid the participation of marginalised groups in elections.
In his session, Abayomi Sarumi, Senior Programme & Digital Campaign Manager at CAPPA, highlighted the crucial role of fact-checking in the context of emerging digital media trends. He stressed that fact-checking is essential for maintaining the accuracy and reliability of online information and protecting the public’s right to truthful content. Sarumi also discussed various digital media trends, such as hoaxes, deep fakes, phishing, and bots, that journalists need to be aware of. He underscored the importance of using robust verification methods and advanced technological tools to combat misinformation and uphold information integrity in the digital age and during elections.
The interesting two-day programme came to an end with a commitment session, which offered participants an opportunity to reflect on the insights and knowledge gained from all the discussions and commit to actionable steps that promote democracy, inclusivity, and effective media engagement in Nigeria. Participants also expressed their gratitude to CAPPA for facilitating the valuable learning experience and for fostering an environment of knowledge sharing.
