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Elections:Journalists Tasked On Conflict-Sensitive Reporting

Published

1 year ago

September 11, 2024

Experts from the media and civil society have tasked journalists to be careful in their coverage of the forthcoming elections in Edo and Ondo states to prevent exacerbating tensions and conflicts.

They spoke yesterday at a Webinar titled: Conflict Sensitive Reporting and Election: Best Practices and Ethical Considerations.

It was organised by the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) in collaboration with the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Programme.

Those who spoke included Deputy Chairman of the Joint Action Front and National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Achike Chude; Executive-in-Charge of Media Mentors Journalism Centre, Joke Kujenya; and CAPPA’s Executive Director Akinbode Oluwafemi.

In his presentation titled: Ethical Considerations and Best Practices for Journalists During Elections Reporting, Chude noted that journalists were responsible for reporting electoral matters with a view to properly informing the electorate.

He said elections determine the standard of living, security of life and property, and the responsibility and accountability of political office holders, and as such journalists must be focused while reporting elections, whether at national or sub-national levels.

“Issues of elections are critical to the development of any country. As such, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, civil society groups and the media must forge a healthy synergy to ensure successful conduct and reportage of polls.

“Unfortunately, in Nigeria, some security agencies and the electoral body sometimes collude with unscrupulous politicians to undermine the electoral process. To that extent, journalists are usually caught up in the middle of electoral violence, but they (reporters) must ensure their safety first and be very knowledgeable about the laws that govern elections at any point in time,” Chude said.

Chude stressed that to report elections effectively, journalists must fully understand the mindset of political gladiators and their political affiliations; have knowledge of security guidelines regarding timing, as well as the movement of people and sensitive electoral materials to successfully navigate the terrain.

In her presentation on Conflict Sensitive Reporting and Elections with Focus on Governorship and Presidential Elections, Ms Kujenya identified the core principles of Conflict Sensitive Reporting (CSR) as accuracy, balance, avoiding stereotypes, minimizing harm and remaining consistent.

Kujenya maintained that conflict-sensitive reporting involves careful coverage of events, particularly elections, to prevent exacerbating tensions and conflicts, as well as ensures that journalism upholds ethical standards while contributing to peace and stability.

She charged reporters to be objective in their reports of the polls, as Edo remains one of the sensitive states in the South-South and the entire country.

Pointing out the importance of Conflict-Sensitive Reporting, she insisted that it reduces the risk of violence and escalation of conflicts; ensures balanced and fair coverage of all parties involved; helps in promoting peaceful discourse; protects journalists from becoming targets and builds public trust in media and the journalist as a core professional.

Referencing data, Kujenya observed that about 80 per cent of news items focused on non-programmatic issues such as election logistics, campaigns and political intrigues, stressing that journalists could have mitigated tensions by focusing on issues-based reporting, rather than amplifying inflammatory statements or perspectives.

“By highlighting policy debates, peaceful initiatives and solutions, journalists could avoid sensationalism capable of provoking violence,” she added.

Oluwafemi, who was represented by CAPPA’s Senior Programme Manager, Abayomi Sarumi, explained that the idea for the webinar was to equip journalists with vital knowledge that could help them professionally cover elections, especially the forthcoming ones in Edo and Ondo states.

He said: “We believe as an organisation that the media plays a key role in the direction that elections take. This webinar is done under the European Union Sustainable Development For Democratic Governance in Nigeria.

“We’ve had a series of engagements with journalists across the country from representative states in the six geopolitical zones.

“We’ve also had webinars covering different issues including the security of journalists, conflict sensitivity, and how to ensure that the democratic process becomes robust and expansive enough to allow for a sustainable transition across states and also at the national level.

“But for this conversation, we’re specifically looking at the ethics and other considerations that we should have as journalists to help the people of Edo state to make informed choices, and to ensure that the way we report elections does not trigger conflict.”

News

Court Restrains EDSIEC, Edo Govt From Conducting LG By-elections

Published

2 hours ago

September 18, 2025

Editor

An Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City has restrained the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) and the state government from going ahead with planned local government by-elections across 59 wards in the state.

The Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice was also a party to the suit.

Justice Mary E. Itsueli, sitting as a vacation judge, granted the order on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, following an ex-parte motion brought to the court by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The PDP, through its counsels, Oluwole Osaze Uzzi, Michael Ekwemuka and P. W. Akwuen, in the suit marked: B/247M/2025, had prayed the court for leave to apply for judicial review of EDSIEC’s decision to conduct by-elections to fill councillorship positions in the affected wards.

The party argued that the councillors’ tenures remain valid until September 2026, making any attempt to declare their seats vacant unlawful.

Justice Itsueli, who held that the applicants had shown sufficient grounds for the court to intervene, also referred the matter to the Chief Judge of Edo State for reassignment to a regular court, fixing September 30, 2025, for the return date.

In the enrolment order sighted by our correspondent, the PDP sought “an Order granting leave to the Applicant to apply for judicial review of the decision of the 1st Respondent to conduct election across 59 wards purportedly to fill vacancies to their legislative seats/offices of Councillors sponsored by the Applicant, when their respective tenures subsist until September, 2026.”

The PDP also asked the court to grant “an Order that the Respondents stay further action and be restrained from conducting the election or taking any further steps in connection with the planned Local Government by election across 59 wards in Local Government Areas of Edo State, particularly as it relates to the seats/offices of the duly elected Councillors in their respective Wards, pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion on notice for judicial review to be filed pursuant to the grant of leave.”

Having duly considered the application and submission of the Counsels to the PDP, the Court ordered that “the applicants are granted leave to apply for Judicial review of the decision of the 1st Respondent to conduct by elections across 59 Wards, purportedly to fill vacancies in the legislative seats/offices of Councillors sponsored by the Applicant, when their respective tenures subsist until September, 2026.”

The Court also ordered that the “respondents are to stay further actions and are restrained from conducting the election or taking any further steps in connection with the planned Local Government by-election across 59 wards in the Local Government Area of Edo State, particularly as it relates to the seats/offices of the duly elected Councillors in their respective wards, pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion on notice for Judicial review to be filed pursuant to the grant of leave.”

“This case is referred to the Honourable Chief Judge for assignment to a regular court. Return date is 30th September 2025,” Justice Mary Itsueli noted.

News

JUST IN: Kenya Airways Pays NCAA Sanction Fee For Passenger’s Rights Violations

Published

3 hours ago

September 18, 2025

Editor

Kenya Airways has paid the sanction fee imposed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority over passenger rights violations, including the case involving Nigerian traveller Gloria Omisore.

According to a post by the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, on his official X account on Thursday, the airline settled the penalty on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, following a series of meetings that included the Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, airline representatives, and officials from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

“Kenya Airways has, on Wednesday 17/09/2025, paid the sanction fee as a penalty for the Gloria Omisore and other consumer protection-related infractions,” Achimugu confirmed.

He stressed that NCAA sanctions are not designed to punish operators but to strengthen compliance with safety and passenger-handling standards.

“As always, NCAA sanctions are not to punish operators, but to help improve their flight operations, especially with regard to safety and passenger handling protocols,” he said.

While commending Kenya Airways for complying, Achimugu noted that payment of fines does not conclude the matter, as the timeframe for resolving the cases has already elapsed. “The payment of sanction fines does not conclude the issues. The NCAA will follow through and is assuring both passengers and airlines of its commitment to protecting their rights and responsibilities,” he added.

Achimugu also emphasised the airline’s long-standing partnership with Nigeria, noting that the penalty was case-specific and does not diminish the positive aspects of its operations.

The NCAA said it would continue to enforce regulations to safeguard passenger rights and ensure airlines adhere to international aviation standards.

In February, Nigerian passenger Gloria Omisore accused Kenya Airways of mishandling her during a disrupted trip that left her stranded at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Omisore, who had been denied boarding on her connecting flight to Paris due to a missing Schengen transit visa, claimed the airline had earlier assured her she was eligible to travel. The visa issue resulted in a 17-hour layover, followed by an additional 10-hour delay for an alternative London route offered by the airline.

During the long wait, Omisore requested accommodation and care, citing exhaustion and health concerns, but Kenya Airways declined, arguing that such provisions do not apply in visa-related denied boardings. The situation escalated into a confrontation, captured on video, where Omisore allegedly threw used sanitary pads at staff.

In response, the NCAA launched an investigation, finding Kenya Airways guilty of breaching consumer protection regulations and misleading the public in its initial statements.

On May 7, 2025, the NCAA sanctioned the airline, ordering compensation of 1,000 Special Drawing Rights for each of the three affected passengers, including Omisore, and demanding a public apology.

News

Flood: Residents Chide Edo Govt Over Failure To Show Concern

Published

4 hours ago

September 18, 2025

Editor

Residents of Ekpoma in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State have lambasted the Governor Monday Okpehbolo-led state government over failure to show concern on the tragic incident where a cocoa merchant, Frank Omoruyi, was swept away by flood.

Recall that it was reported on Tuesday that flood swept away a man earlier identified as motorcyclist.

The residents, while expressing displeasure over the state government’s failure to send any rescue team to help recover the corpse, said they paid what they termed ‘good money’ to divers from Benue State to recover Omoruyi’s corpse from a burrow pit at Uwenbo area after two days of intense search.

The residents who lamented that no state government or local government official joined in the rescue operation, threatened to protest and stop further construction work of the Benin-Auchi highway.

A resident, Samuel Osarenkhoe said: “Two Benue boys were hired to get the body out. We paid them handsomely. He was a cocoa merchant. He was our member and a good friend.

Another resident, Luis Ebabulu, said: “They were saddened that no government official visited the community two days after the incident occurred.

“No government official has been here since the incident occurred. We have been contributing money to pay people to search for the body. We are coming out tomorrow to protest to stop the project. They cannot be doing roads and be killing us.

“Flooding and erosion problems have been worsened by the construction of the Benin-Auchi highway. The contractor channeled flood water to the borrowed pit.”

Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, said Governor l has desilted drainages across the state.