Stakeholders from media organisations, civil society groups, election observation networks and communication institutions have called for stronger partnerships, enhanced transparency and improved protection for journalists to strengthen the credibility of future elections in Nigeria.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a Media-CSO Roundtable on Building Stronger Media-CSO Partnerships for Credible, Peaceful and Inclusive Elections, held on Tuesday at the United Nations House in Abuja.
The roundtable was jointly convened by Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to examine challenges affecting election coverage and explore strategies for deepening collaboration between the media and civil society in promoting transparency, accountability and public confidence in the electoral process.
Among the key recommendations was the establishment of a verified central platform for timely electoral information accessible to both journalists and civil society organisations. Participants also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct mandatory pre-election tests of electoral technologies and formally recognise the media as a critical stakeholder in the electoral process.
The communiqué further recommended that post-election reports should capture incidents of journalist harassment, denial of access to information, polling units and collation centres as part of efforts to strengthen accountability and transparency.
To improve cooperation between stakeholders, participants proposed the creation of a joint media-CSO platform for sharing information, resources and verified content. They also advocated the mapping of civil society organisations according to thematic expertise to improve sourcing by journalists and enhance direct information exchange between both sectors.
The stakeholders noted that CSO personnel working in remote communities could serve as correspondents in areas with limited media presence, thereby expanding access to election-related information across the country.
On funding and resource mobilisation, the meeting encouraged the exploration of structured support mechanisms through civil society organisations and development partners to improve election coverage. It also endorsed a proposal by the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) for a shared resource pool that would enable media organisations to access election-related photographs, footage, data and other materials.
The safety of journalists featured prominently in the discussions, with participants calling for the establishment of a Security Accord involving media organisations, civil society groups, security agencies and other stakeholders to provide a formal framework for journalist protection during election assignments.
They also proposed the creation of an inter-agency consultative security committee with representation from the media and civil society sectors, alongside regular pre-election engagements involving INEC, security agencies and media stakeholders.
The communiqué underscored the need for continuous professional development through election reporting training programmes before, during and after elections. Participants recommended extending such capacity-building initiatives to journalism students, young people and digital content creators, while strengthening competencies in artificial intelligence tools, fact-checking and combating misinformation and disinformation.
The stakeholders further stressed the importance of editorial independence and proposed the establishment of independent channels through which journalists could safely share information that may not be published by their primary media organisations. They also recommended the creation of a dedicated digital portal for journalists and bloggers operating in underserved communities.
On fact-checking, the roundtable urged media organisations to establish dedicated fact-checking desks and make verification a central component of editorial practice throughout the electoral cycle.
To address voter apathy, participants called for intensified public awareness campaigns and stronger collaboration between media organisations and civil society groups on civic education and voter mobilisation initiatives.
The communiqué also highlighted the need for insurance coverage for journalists, technical personnel and equipment deployed for election coverage. It stressed that videographers, camera operators and other technical staff should be adequately recognised and included in accreditation, security planning and deployment arrangements.
Participants raised concerns about the psychological impact of election reporting, particularly in conflict-prone areas, and recommended the establishment of structured psychosocial support systems, including trauma counselling, therapy and mental health services for journalists exposed to violence, intimidation and other traumatic experiences.
They further urged media organisations to incorporate mental health and trauma-awareness training into pre-deployment preparations and adopt staff welfare policies that provide psychological support, debriefing sessions and referral pathways for affected personnel.
The participants reaffirmed their commitment to promoting a free, safe, adequately resourced and professionally equipped media environment, describing it as essential to credible elections and democratic governance in Nigeria.
They called on INEC, security agencies, media regulatory bodies, civil society organisations, media proprietors and development partners to take immediate steps toward implementing the recommendations outlined in the communiqué.
