Mrs Eugenia Abu, a veteran Nigerian Journalist who made the called, urged journalists to professionally perform their duties by being balanced and refuse to be used by politicians in compromising their professional services to the people who they are to serve.

The Veteran Nigerian Journalist also urged media practitioners many of whom are considered as talk shows host not to use their platform to preach ‘Hate Speech’ to cause conflict, adding, “some talk show host are using their platform to create unstable peace in the community”.

Mrs Abu was speaking at a two day Media Conference on elections reporting in the ECOWAS Sub-Region, in Abuja Nigeria. The media workshop is being organized by the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) and ECOWAS in collaboration with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and is on the general theme; “Professional Reporting of Elections”.

Speaking on the topic: “The Social Responsibility of the media during elections,”  Mrs Abu urged ECOWAS journalists to be more professional in order to be regarded as the most respected individuals in their respective countries. Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria explained that for Election Management Body (EMB) and media practitioners to work effectively, “we must create an environment for trust, openness, access, cooperation and understand each other”.

He said it was therefore paramount for media practitioners to constantly focus on capacity building, professionalism with emphasis on ethics and best practices; “this we hope will not only sustain interest but also aid in the delivery of credible, transparent and peaceful elections.

Prof. Yakubu who is also the President of ECONEC also emphasised the critical role the media plays in the conduct of election and tasked the media especially political reporters to ensure transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

The training will also involve media mapping, respect for international standards,   message development, peace-building and avoidance of conflict inciting reporting, critical for responsible   media   systems   for   effective   contribution   to   electoral   integrity   and development of the democratic process in the region.

Participants will receive reorientation on professional ethics and best practices on media reporting during elections and the role of the media throughout the electoral cycle.  It is also a platform to engage with journalists in the conventional and social media sectors focusing on their constitutional and social responsibilities for the protection of national security and promotion of democracy and good governance in the region.

It also serve as the basis to create a corps of well-informed media professionals with requisite skills in election reporting; contribute to the creation of an enlightened electorate, who are able to make informed choices in the election of their leaders for the promotion of credible, transparent and peaceful elections, democracy and good governance in the ECOWAS region.

It is also to build mutually beneficial relationship between the media and other stakeholders including political leadership, security agencies, Election management Bodies (EMBs), civil society and development partners to promote credible elections and good governance in the region.

By Francis Ameyibor, GNA Special Correspondent, Abuja Nigeria