Rising from the 14th All Nigeria Editors Conference
(ANEC 2018) participants have tasked the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), to remain independent in its practice by allowing citizens’
votes to count, reports ITREALMS.
ANEC, ITREALMS
gathered, was hosted by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE); made up of editors
drawn from the print, electronic and online media across the country, which has
three categories of membership, namely member, associate and fellow. NGE
fellowship is earned and conferred and not applied for.
Participants at the 14th edition held in Asaba,
capital of Delta State, which ended at the weekend with the theme: "Credible
Elections, Sustainable Democracy and the Nigerian media” in a 9-point communique
observed that elections in Nigeria are not yet built on truth and urged INEC to
ensure every vote counts during the 2019 elections.
“… As such, is cardinal to sustaining democracy,” part
of the communique signed by both the president, Funke Egbemode and General- Secretary,
Victoria Ibanga read in part.
It also 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.
Equally, they expressed the need for Nigerian journalists to
intensify efforts that will deepen democracy through sustained investigative,
balance and analytical reportage.
Noting however, that the role of traditional media is
being threatened by emergence of social media where balanced reporting, truth
and accuracy are relegated, ANEC vowed to defend the truth through professional
practice.
Chuks Egbune/GEE
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