Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in gathering more information about their lapses in the 2023 general election today has a strategic meeting with the media executives in Lagos.
The meeting had in attendance media executives from selected media house in Nigeria and all INEC executives including the Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu.
Yakubu in his address said the media one of the commission’s stakeholders as they know the civic educations and regularly consult them ahead of formulation of policies and Electoral activities. They as a commission are convinced that the media are part of the discussion for the overall improvement of the Electoral process based on their field observations and report received from people they deployed to the field during the election.
He said the discussion of the engagement meeting include; continuous voters registration voter apathy to polling unit, Logistics, Polling unit administration on election day, conduct of regular staff and advocate officials during election, Conduct of Security Personnel, Accreditation of Voters especially those that operate in state and local government level and movement, Access for Journalist into the voting centres, the role of technology in voter registration, Communication by the Commission including; Strategic, Tactical and Crisis Communication Fake news on the Social media, Inclusivity for Youth, Women Persons living with disability and other things in the Electoral process and Lastly any other information that will improve election in Nigeria.
The Chairman Planning Monitoring and Strategy Committee INEC, Prof. Rhodes Gumus in her welcome address said the Media play a vital role in electoral process in information dissemination and public enlightenment which is possible through the provision of platforms for electoral campaigns public debate and voter education a precondition for free and fair elections. She said without the media safe guarding the credibility and transparency of electoral process will be difficult task.
She went further that the purpose of the meeting is to undertake a comprehensive review on the issues, challenges and evaluation of the 2023 General election and the critical lesson,the meeting is also designed to receive feedback from the media and also highlight how the media can work together to ensure the Nation’s stability during and after the election.
She then said they are expecting a robust discussion on the issues and challenges during the election bearing in mind that their key recommendations in the review of the meeting will enhance the commission in planning for future election.
The Administrative Secretary INEC Lagos State, Adebisi Ajayi said he feels delighted and honoured to welcome everyone to the review meeting holding in Lagos State.
Meanwhile the commission also met with all the 36 states Administration Secretaries including the FCT to Strategise on some of lapses in the 2023 General election.
In his welcome address, the INEC Boss welcomed all the 36 states Administrative Secretaries including FCT, he said the ES play a vital role in election activities by their coordinating role in implementation of policy in the temporary absence of resident electoral commissioner in some states, conducted bye elections, Governorship election and even the general election. He went further that the purpose of the meeting is to review the 2023 General election at state level, identify many areas of strength, overview to consolidating on them and identifying the weakness to comes up with actionable recommendations for improvement.
He then said there are basic election administrative issues that Nigerian’s use as a yastic to better the commission’s efficiency they include;
Prompt commencement of polls at the appropriate time to achieve.
Nigerian’s expect Prompt and efficient service of polling unit by well trained officials.
Challenges encountered in technology and security and facilities and personnel.
Ajayi noted that the event is significant as it provides opportunities for all the Executive Secretaries as participants to critically reflect on the conduct of the 2023 General Election with a review to discuss issues to profer recommendations to solve the lapses of the last election.
He said their contributions will no doubt assist the commission to provide suitable policies that will carry her steps to strive towards the entrenchment of viable and sustainable democracy in Nigeria
