••• As IPC engages journalists on credible poll

The Ekiti State Police Command has pledged to arrest vote buyers and criminals during the 2026 governorship election in the state, to ensure a credible, free and fair poll.

This was just as the International Press Centre (IPC) has engaged Journalists in Ekiti on a two-day stakeholders’ dialogue on credible election, as part of its activities to train the media practitioners ahead of the forthcoming June 20 governorship election.

The Commissioner of Police, represented by the Command’s spokesman, SP Sunday Abutu, disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti at the weekend, at a 2-day “Ekiti State Government Media-Led Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Credible Election” organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) in collaboration with the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) and sponsored by the European Union.

Abutu, who said the command would be firm in tackling vote buying and vote trading during the election, acknowledged that criminal elements often attempt to undermine electoral processes but assured that the police had strategies in place to prevent such activities.

He noted that the police would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to maintain peace and order, stressing that the joint objective of all actors involved in the electoral process is to deliver a credible election in the state.

According to him, the command is already aware of the tense political atmosphere often associated with elections and would remain proactive in addressing emerging security threats.

“We are going to be tough on vote buying and trading. We will always have criminal elements, and that is why we have the police. They will try to beat our strategies, but we will deploy our forces to prevent that menace”. he said.

Also speaking, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Bunmi Omosehindemi, emphasised that voter education and proper accreditation processes are critical to the success of any election.

Speaking earlier in his welcome remarks, the IPC Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade explained that the dialogue, funded by the European Union, was organised under the programme titled: “EU-Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II), Component 4: Support to Media.”

He noted that the initiative is aimed at strengthening the capacity of the media to promote credible elections through factual, accurate and fair reporting.

Arogundade said the programme is part of a broader five-year intervention designed to support democratic governance and improve the role of the media in Nigeria’s electoral process.

He added that fact-checking and inclusive reporting are critical responsibilities for journalists, particularly during election periods, noting that the media must play a central role in ensuring transparency and accountability in the democratic process.

Speaking with journalists, a resource person and Director of Journalism Clinic, Taiwo Obe urged journalists to retool themselves and embrace artificial intelligence in order to remain effective in the evolving media landscape shaped by changing patterns of news consumption.

Taiwo Obe, said the digital transformation of the media industry requires journalists to continuously upgrade their skills in order to remain relevant and effective in their professional practice.

According to him, the changing nature of media consumption in the digital era makes it imperative for journalists to master modern digital tools and platforms, including the use of artificial intelligence.

His words, “My charge to today’s journalists is to retool themselves and learn how to use digital apps and tools in their practice because media consumption habits have changed in the digital milieu. This requires the use of those apps and tools and even artificial intelligence”.

Also speaking, a Professor of Mass Communication at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Adebola Aderibigbe, urged journalists in the State to ensure that coverage of the forthcoming governorship election is driven by issues rather than personalities. (The Guardian)