Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, WARDC in association with NCAA organized an onsite/virtual media engagement for media operators from Edo, Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom states, on ‘The Impact of Violence and Corruption in 2023 Election: Gender Integrity and Accountability,’ May 10, 2023.
The media session provided room for experience sharing between some civil society activists and media practitioners on the conduct of the 2023 elections, how the media performed and how to improve on media services to promote women and project accountability.
Addressing participants from both print and electronic media, activists called for objectivity noting that some practitioners aided in promoting partisanship instead of being objective and fair to all. They pointed out that commercialization of news meant less avenues for promoting women thus placing women at a disadvantage.
According to one of the conveners, Dr Nsekpong Udoh, “The role of the media in mitigating and reducing violence and corruption in election is crucial as the media plays a key role in shaping the views of the masses”.
She explained that the objective of the session is to secure the support of the media to ensure equity and accountability in future elections. The event was part of the ‘Improving electoral integrity and accountability’ WRAPA/Mac Arthur Foundation programme facilitated by Community Partners for Development.
The event was preceded by a civil society session which also x-rayed the 2023 elections in relation to electoral violence, corruption and accountability.
