Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has appealed to the media to embark on massive, effective public enlightenment of the electorate on the Electoral Act 2022 to make next year’s general elections a success.

Yakubu said the public enlightenment has become necessary because the 2023 general election would be the first time elections would be conducted, using the 2022 Electoral Act which many were yet to thoroughly understand its provisions.

The INEC Chairman made the appeal at a sensitisation forum for broadcasters and stakeholders on fair and responsible coverage of the 2023 general election organised by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) where he also charged the media on neutrality.

The event was held at the NAF Conference Centre, Jabi, Abuja, on Monday September 26, 2022 ahead of the commencement of public campaigns by the political parties and their candidates which commences on Wednesday, September 28, 2022.

Apart from the huge enlightenment responsibility, Yukubu also enjoined media organizations to ensure that they crossed checked their facts before publishing their stories and operate with the bounds of extant laws, to ensure peace and tranquility before, during and after the 2023 general election.

Stressing that the 2023 general election will be the first time of implementing the Electoral Act 2022 in a nationwide election, the INEC Chairman noted that many aspects of the ‘new’ law were yet to be understood by Nigerians.

He, therefore tasked the media to play a critical role in ensuring a more effective public enlightenment on the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 in particular and other aspects of the electoral process in general; while urging everyone to operate within the confines of the law and the provisions of the Commission’s rules and regulations.

Yakubu said: “The 2023 General Election will be taking place against the background of the new Electoral Act 2022. As you are aware, the new law is a repeal and re-enactment of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) which governed the conduct of three general elections (2011, 2015 and 2019).

“However, the forthcoming 2023 General Election is the first time that many aspects of the Electoral Act 2022 will be implemented in a nationwide election. Many aspects of the new law are yet to be properly understood and appreciated by many Nigerians, including the political actors. The broadcast media are critical partners to INEC.

“While the Commission will continue to deepen its focused engagement with stakeholders, the media play a critical role in ensuring a more effective public enlightenment on the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 in particular and other aspects of the electoral process in general.

“In the next two days, campaigns by political parties in public as provided by Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 will officially commence nationwide. This means that over the next five months or so, political parties, candidates and their supporters will traverse the country canvassing for votes. They will engage in media appearances and hold town hall meetings, door-to-door campaigns, rallies and processions. This period is often characterised by excitement as well as anxiety.

“Therefore, political parties, candidates and their supporters, as well as the media, have a responsibility to operate within the confines of the law and the provisions of the Commission’s rules and regulations.”

The INEC boss canvassed for issue-based campaigns to ensure the conducive atmosphere necessary for all electoral activities and processes.

“Issue-based campaign is essential for safe electioneering. In turn, this will create the atmosphere for the successful deployment and conduct of all electoral activities. Campaigns should be devoid of hate speech; abusive, intemperate, or slanderous language; insinuations or innuendoes likely to provoke violent reaction; physical attack on supporters of one party by another or destruction of campaign materials etc,” Yakubu warned.

Quoting sections of the 2022 Electoral Act which defines responsibilities of political parties, candidates, the media and public institutions, as well as appropriate sanctions for those who fail to comply with the provisions of the law, the INEC Chairman reminded participants at the forum that both the media and INEC stand for neutrality.

“More specifically, Section 95 of the Electoral Act 2022 defines the responsibilities of political parties and candidates, the media and public institutions. It also provides sanctions for violations. For instance, in the course of our numerous interactions with political parties over the years, many have complained about the denial of access to public facilities for meetings and rallies, exorbitant charges for signages and billboards, and equal access to State media. Using the power of incumbency to deny opposition parties access to public facilities is illegal. Section 95 Subsections 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are unambiguous and worth quoting verbatim as follows:

95(2) “State apparatus including the media shall not be employed to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate at any election.”

95(3) "Media time shall be allocated equally among the political parties and candidates at similar hours of the day.”

95(4) “At any public electronic media, equal airtime shall be allotted to all political parties or candidates during prime times at similar hours each day, subject to the payment of appropriate fees.”

95(5) “At any public print media, equal coverage and visibility shall be allotted to all political parties.”

“Failure to comply with the provisions of the law attracts sanctions against both the media organisation and its principal officers as clearly provided for in Section 95(6) as follows:

“95(6) “A person who contravenes subsections (3) and (4) commits an offence and is liable on conviction, in the case of –

“(a) a public media, to a fine of N2,000,000 in the first instance and N5,000,000 for subsequent conviction; and

“(b) principal officers and other officers of the media house, to a fine of N1,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of six months.”

“As campaigns start, the media has a huge responsibility. We have all been talking about issue-based campaigns. I believe that the media has a critical role to play in this respect. Equitable access to the media for all political parties and candidates is essential to the promotion of issue-based campaigns. By doing so, the media will also steer the discussion and engage the candidates away from the mundane to the critical issues that matter to citizens. Consequently, the public will be in a better position to make informed decisions on Election Day.

Continuing, Yakubu said: “Beyond the commencement of campaigns by political parties, I would like to seize this opportunity to appeal to the media to continue to fact-check stories before going to press. Politics is an intensely partisan activity. The media and INEC stand for neutrality.

“I urge you to continue to abide by the ethics of the profession anchored on the law, the regulations and guidelines published by INEC and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Code. I wish to assure you that we will continue to engage with the NBC and broadcast stations. We will, as always, continue to provide you with the necessary information to make your work of informing and educating citizens easier. I also wish to reiterate our commitment to the nation that the Commission will do everything within its power to ensure that the 2023 General Election is free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive and verifiable.”