Harboursandport.com: Abuja - The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has described as false information making the rounds that it is considering abandoning the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System BVAS and the INEC Results Viewing Portal IreV.
Director of Voters Education and Publicity of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Victor Aluko, while speaking at a 2-Day Capacity Building for Journalists and CSOs on Conflict-Sensitive Reporting during the 2023 General Election and Countering Fake News for the North Central zone, assured Nigerians that, whoever emerged winner in the 2023 general elections would be declared by INEC.
Aluko also said that news that INEC will not use Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) is a piece of fake news and that the commission is guided by the principles of one man one vote. He explained that any news about the threat to remove the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, and news that there will be no electronic transmission of results should be considered fake news.
He noted that the Commission is preparing for about 70 percent turn out just like Ghana did as the 2023 elections is going to be the mother of all elections, adding that the 2023 elections will be a watershed in the history of Nigeria.
In his words, " let me assure you that news that INEC will not use Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) is a piece of fake news and that the commission is guided by the principles of one man one vote. Any news about threats to remove the INEC Chairman is fake news.2023 elections will be a watershed in the history of Nigeria."
The Capacity building programme was organised by Center for Democracy and Development (CDD), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in conjunction with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Earlier in his Keynote Presentation on the Role of Media in the Conduct of Peaceful Elections, the
National President of NUJ, Chris Isiguzo said that the inability of other stakeholders in the media industry to agree with the NUJ on some aspects to be inserted in the Code of Ethics for Journalism practice in the country has led to the delay in the release of the document.
Isiguzo who assured Journalists that the revised version of the document would give them some measure of protection, however, expressed confidence that before long the NUJ and stakeholders would tie all loose ends before the document would be finally released.
He said, "The NUJ, the Guild of Editors, Newspapers Proprietors of Nigeria and Guild Online Publishers and Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (among others) all gathered and said there was the need to design a framework for media practice in the country.
"Last week we adopted a substantial part of this document; one talks about having an ombudsman that will be able to moderate media activities in the country and of course a revised Code of Ethics for media practice for journalists in the country.
"But what actually delayed and is still delaying it is because last night (Wednesday) we still could not agree; but somehow we are talking of the Bill of Rights because when you come up with a Code of Ethics for journalists; the things you must do, the things you shouldn't do;
"We also felt that it is not just about the practitioners; the publishers; the media entrepreneurs are also expected to discharge certain responsibilities because the conduct or misconduct of a practitioner is somehow triggered by the actions or inactions of the publisher or media company.
The NUJ President who charged Journalists of peaceful journalism urged them to maintain high-level professionalism in their reportage, adding, "Since the role of the media in Nigeria’s emerging democracy is central, media professionals must maintain the highest possible standards in their practice.
In her remarks, the Director, of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDC), Mrs. Idayat Hassan who was represented by Ihekoronye Damian, the Grant, and Partnership Manager said they organized the workshop to understand some of the critical issues that guide and promote transparency and accountability, adding that the issue of fake news is very important in the 2023 elections, saying, Nigeria across the six geopolitical zones are witnessing one conflict or the other and with elections coming up, the risks are higher and we need to come together and brainstorm.
On his part, the NUJ Chairman, FCT Council, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche said that there was nothing greater than feeding Nigerians with the right source of information, we must also be mindful of the government who are the major source of information because they have the resources and sometimes government officials engage in this things.
Ogbeche who admonished Journalists, Civil Society Organization (CSO's) to be mindful of the secondhand information they get from political actors, they are meant to deprive and misinform people, we must fact check all information we get before use, said, "While there are interests, journalists must remain non-partisan, non-religion affiliates, he, however, enjoined them to be attentive and equip themselves with knowledge and ensure credible and verifiable information backed with facts and in the interest of the nation."
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