The eighteen registered Political parties have been urged adhere to the provisions of the Constitution, the 2022 Electoral Act , the Police Act, and the public order Act as the campaigns for next year’s general election commences later this week.
INEC Chairman Professor Mahmoud Yakubu stated this in Lagos during a two day capacity building workshop for INEC Press Corps members on critical issues in the Electoral Act 2022, the commission’s processes, innovations preparations for the 2023 general election.
Represented by the National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee Mr Festus Okoye, Professor Yakubu said Political campaign or slogan should not be tainted with abusive languages that would directly or indirectly injure religious ethnic or tribal feelings.
He urged the Media not to act as appendage of any Political Party but to give all the parties equal representation.
On the Voter Register, professor Yakubu said cleaning up of the register is at its final stage of and that the stakeholders would be carried along in it’s findings before displaying the register for claims and objections.
Welcoming the participants, the Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Olusegun Agbage urged the Media to the principle of fairness and balance in the coverage of Political party campaigns.
In a Goodwill message, the European Union representative and DAI team leader, Rudolf Elbling told the INEC press corps members to use the information acquired at the workshop to educate the electorate on the electoral processes.
Elbling also pledged continued support of his organization to INEC to deepen democracy in the country.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi said the workshop aimed to promote Voter Education narratives for next year’s general election.
Also, Mr Oyekanmmi said the Media would be given information about the commission’s efforts to engender inclusivity in the electoral processess.
The Chairman INEC Press Corps, Mr Segun Ojumu urged INEC to always respond urgently to issues from the Media to avoid fake news, misinformation and misrepresentation of facts capable of causing problems in the society.
