By Ozioruva Aliu

THE International Press Centre (IPC) weekend concluded a two day training for journalists ahead of the September 24 governorship election where it urged journalists that would cover the election to adhere strictly to the codes and regulations guiding elections, particularly on reporting all the processes leading to the election.

The Centre also urged the media to make the people the cornerstone of their reportages and ensure compliance to neutrality and accuracy.

The Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, at the training, equally called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and all the security agencies that would be involved in the conduct of the election to conduct themselves within the confines of the constitution, urging them not to take sides with any political party or individuals.

According to him,”In this forthcoming Edo election, we expect the police to guarantee the safety of journalists, and for the police not to attack journalists. Where there are cases of attack on journalists, we expect prompt investigation.

“It is the public interest that should constitute our guiding principles, and not any other interest, be it partisan, cultural, religion or political.”

Arogundade urged INEC to be proactive by providing journalists with necessary information regarding the election so as to aid factual and credible reporting of the electoral process and guide against misinformation.

He said that the programme was part of the activities being implemented by the IPC with support from the European Union (EU), for democratic governance in Nigeria.

On his part, one of the resource persons and the Executive Director, Journalism Clinic, Taiwo Ojo, urged journalists to leverage on modern technologies in telling their stories.

He emphasised the place of research and knowledge in journalism, stressing the need for  journalists to use their professionalism in this social media age to fight misinformation even as the governorship draws nearer.