PAACA Trains Media Practitioners in Plateau State on Electoral Act

A non-governmental Organization, Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation and other Partners on Thursday 25th July, 2024 trained Media Practitioners on the Electoral Act at Crispan Hotel and Suites Jos, Plateau State.

The Executive Director of PAACA, Ezenwa Nwagwu hinted that the One-Day Capacity Building Workshop was organized for media Practitioners to equip them with key provisions of the Electoral Act and make them more conversant with the Act to guide them in effective reportage which he said has the propensity of strengthening the nation’s electoral processes.
He said there is visible knowledge gap about the Electoral Act which has adversely affected objective reportage and the expected recommendations that will add value and strengthen the Nation’s democracy by improving future elections in the Country.

He urged the Participants to invest interest to get acquainted with the laws guiding the conduct of Elections and hold stakeholders in the electoral pyramid accountable for malpractices and other unhealthy tendencies.
According to him, better knowledge of the Electoral Act is key as it will ensure the Electoral Management Body, INEC raises transparency and integrity of elections.
He further stated that party agents have critical roles to play in enhancing the integrity of elections, hence the need for party agents to be loyal and patriotic to their political parties and be people of proven integrity.
He charged Media Practitioners to use the power of collaboration and synergize for better outcomes as well as be good Ambassadors of good information and good governance for the collective good of the Nation.

Senior Program Officer PAAC, Mr Isaiah Amonye emphasized the need to build the capacity of Media Practitioners considering the roles they play in raising awareness and being the watchdogs of the society.
According to him, the new Electoral Act which became operational in 2022 and was used for the 2023 General Elections provides a legal framework that empowers the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to determine the mode of voting and transmission of results as well as review declaration of results made under duress.
He charged the media and Civil Society Organizations to make valid recommendations that will help INEC improve the Electoral processes.
He averred that INEC has significantly improved election integrity in Nigeria with the introduction of the Bimodal Voters’ Accreditation System (BVAS) which has reduced electoral fraud and other sharp practices that has hitherto post serious challenge to the electoral process.

Highlights of the training were a panel discussion on the role of media, traditional and religious institutions in Electoral education and outreach as well as questions and answers session.