The International Press Centre, IPC, has unveiled WAFLO, a WhatsApp-enabled, AI-assisted Live Election Incident Reporting System, to strengthen the safety of journalists and protect press freedom during the Osun State Governorship Election scheduled for August 15, 2026.
The pilot deployment of WAFLO is designed to facilitate real-time reporting, documentation, and monitoring of incidents affecting journalists on election duty.
WAFLO enables journalists to instantly report threats, assaults, intimidation, harassment, and other violations of press freedom through a secure WhatsApp interface. Reports submitted are verified, documented, and channeled for timely response by relevant stakeholders.
Journalists can access the platform via the SafeMedia WhatsApp service by: Visiting: https://dub.sh/safemedia, or Sending the word “SAFEMEDIA” to 0805 877 8053 on WhatsApp.
Users should wait a few seconds for automated prompts before submitting their incident reports.
Speaking at the unveiling, IPC Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, described the pilot as a critical step toward building a responsive system for protecting journalists covering elections in Nigeria.
“The deployment of WAFLO during the Osun governorship election is a pilot initiative aimed at strengthening the prompt identification, documentation, and response to incidents affecting journalists and other media professionals on election duty. Our objective is to ensure that no attack or infringement against journalists goes unnoticed or unreported,” he said.
According to him, the platform transforms incident reporting into actionable data, enabling swift response to emerging threats while generating evidence to support accountability and improved protection mechanisms.
Mr. Arogundade added that lessons from the Osun pilot will inform the enhancement and nationwide rollout of WAFLO ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
“The ability of journalists to report freely and safely is fundamental to credible elections. WAFLO provides a practical mechanism for real-time reporting and coordinated response that reinforces ongoing efforts to protect journalists and strengthen democratic processes,” he stated.
The initiative is implemented under Component 4: Support to Media of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Phase Two, EU-SDGN II programme. It is being executed by the International Press Centre, IPC, and the Centre for Media and Society, CEMESO.
The project complements ongoing EU-SDGN II interventions to strengthen media professionalism, election reporting, fact-checking, and journalists’ safety in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, and other stakeholders.
WAFLO complements existing safety services available through the EU-SDGN II Election Observation Hub, including a dedicated safety desk.
IPC urged journalists to adhere to professional safety protocols by ensuring proper accreditation and carrying valid identification, press tags, and other credentials during the election.
The Centre also called on security agencies, political actors, election officials, and other stakeholders to respect journalists’ constitutional right to carry out their duties without intimidation or interference.
IPC expressed appreciation to the leadership of the *Osun State Council of the NUJ for supporting the technology-driven initiative.
