By Ayodele Abere
The International Press Centre, IPC, and the Centre for Media and Society, CEMESO, have urged journalists and media professionals covering Saturday’s June 20, 2026 Ekiti governorship election to adhere to professional standards and prioritize safety.
In a joint press release issued on Thursday, June 19 2026, the organisations said the advisory was necessary given the critical role of the media and the potential risks to journalists during elections.
IPC Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said journalists must be safety conscious and avoid situations that could put them in harm’s way across the 16 Local Government Areas where the poll will hold.
He cautioned against partisanship, stressing that it includes not only membership of a political party but also the use of expressions, tags, symbols, and colours that identify with any candidate or party.
“Journalists covering the Ekiti election must be non-partisan in reporting and presentation,” Arogundade said.
He also advised journalists to be properly kitted and accredited to avoid harassment or restriction by security agencies. He added that journalists not on election duty should avoid straying into polling units, while those on duty must display identification cards and press tags at all times.
CEMESO Executive Director, Dr. Akin Akingbulu, called for functional collaboration between security personnel and the press based on mutual respect for institutional roles.
He said the IPC/CEMESO-Safety of Journalists field coordination model was designed to convert the historically adversarial relationship between security forces and journalists into purposeful cooperation for a credible election.
“Collaboration must never drift into co-optation. The media’s independence is not a courtesy from security institutions — it is a right guaranteed by the democratic framework,” Akingbulu said.
He noted that protecting the press is an investment in the integrity of the electoral process, not a favour to journalists.
