The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has described it technological innovations as a major tool for improving the electoral process by detecting malpractices, and at the end ensure integrity and transparency.
This was highlighted at a forum organised by INEC for Media Executives from both the electronic and print media as well as online media platforms in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State.
The gathering was to discuss ways of ensuring adequate and professional coverage of the 2022 Ekiti gubernatorial election slated 18th of this month.
The Ekiti State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Dr. Tella Adeniran, who was represented by the Head, Voter Education and Publicity, Femi Akinbiyi, charged voters not to sell their votes. He urged community leaders to prevail on their subjects to collect their Permanent Voter Card, PVC, as a guarantee to vote on the day of the election.
Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ekiti State Council, Comrade Rotimi Ojomoyela, promised that journalists will continue to educate the electorates through the various media. He said his members will work within professional ethics, while erring members will be sanctioned by the Ethics and Discplinary Commitee set up for that purpose.
“Journalists we regard as quacks are the ones that involve in unwholesome practice. We set up a committee that will handle this. The committee is called’ task force against quacks’. Their duty is to fish out people who are perpetrators of fake news. They’re working in collaboration with the police and all the security agencies”.
Those who spoke on INEC’s technological innovations explained that introduction of such has impacted positively on checkmating the sharp practices in the electoral process.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and publicity, Barrister Festus Okoye urged the media to assist in the fight against fake news and control the dissemination of such for the forthcoming Ekiti governorship election to avoid causing unnecessary violence. He implored the media to ensure proper education of the voters in the State.
