Media experts call for inclusive coverage of Anambra governorship poll

ONITSHA, Anambra, Nigeria – Stakeholders and experts in the media  have appealed to  journalists covering Anambra state governorship  electioneering process  to give equitable opportunities to all  persons and parties in the state.

They made the appeal at a workshop organised by European Union Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria and Institute for Media and Society held in Awka Anambra state on Thursday.

The experts drawn from across media house,academics and research institutes said that in a democratic setting  media should be  able to cover election fairly ,equitably and conclusively without being bias .

Speaking at the workshop , the Executive  Director of International Press Centre, Lagos  Dr. Lanre Arogundade  said the media is critical to credible election , noting that  practitioners should strive hard to give equitable  coverage to all political parties and  their political activities.

He also stated that media  should give adequate attentions, especially to people with disabilities ,women and youths   to enable them participate actively in  elections .

Arogundade said that media  should  ensure equitable allocation of time for all parties in person in the election. While Mr. Akin Akingbulu , of the Institute of Media and Society said that media  should not neglect any party or person  because of his /her status in covering election .

He also called on the media  to be serious in the  application of self censorship in the election coverage by giving every person fair opportunity of presenting his/her programmes to the public.

 According to him, the media should avoid the usage of language that is capable of  creating  crisis in the election. He said  that even if a politician made  a hate statement that is capable of creating tension media should ignore  it in reporting.

While Prof. Stella Okunna of the Department of Mass Communication , Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka called on the media to give  more attention to women and youth   in the politics.

According to her, there is need for  more  voters education in the state to enable  women in rural area to participate in the electioneering process.