The Nigeria Guild of Editors has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to remain resolute and maintain its independence as it forges ahead in the task of conducting credible elections next
year.
Rising from its annual annual conference which ended last week in Asaba, the Delta State capital, the Guild, in a communique jointly signed by its president, Mrs. Funke Egbemode and General Secretary, Mrs. Victoria Ibanga, observed that elections in Nigeria were not built on truth as it urged INEC to remain independent in its conduct by allowing citizens’ vote to count.
The editors also commended the 91 political parties in the country for the maturity displayed during the recently-concluded party primaries but frowned at the allegations of vote buying which, they observed, had become a subtle but worrisome way of institutionalising corruption.
While decrying the level of insecurity in the country, stressing that the nation deserves more than rhetorics and political slogans on issues of citizens’ welfare, the Guild commended the government and people of Delta State for the rapid growth in infrastructure across the state as well as human capacity development.
While expressing the need for Nigerian journalists to intensify efforts that will deepen democracy through sustained investigative, balance and analytical reportage, the editors challenged media practitioners to join in the mobilisation of Nigerians through unbiased reports to take collective responsibility in choosing leaders for the nation in the next general elections.
The Guild also observed that the role of traditional media was being threatened with the emergence of social media where balanced reporting, truth and accuracy are gradually and consistently being relegated. The editors however agreed to defend the truth through professional practice even as they urged publishers and chief executives of media establishments to play down on what they described as the commoditisation of information to enhance
objectivity.
