The International Press Centre and the Centre for Media and Society have organised a virtual engagement for journalists, media stakeholders and civil society actors ahead of the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State.
The programme, held on Tuesday under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II) initiative, focused on digital rights, cybersecurity and responsible election reporting.
Speaking during the Zoom session, the Executive Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade, said election reporting had evolved beyond physical polling units to digital spaces where journalists now face increasing threats.
Arogundade said journalists were increasingly exposed to surveillance, hacking, online harassment, misinformation and digital repression while carrying out their professional duties.
According to him, democratic engagement has largely shifted to the digital space, thereby making media practitioners vulnerable to cyber harassment, unlawful surveillance, account breaches, online trolling and arrests linked to digital expression.
He expressed concern over the use of certain provisions of Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act, particularly cyberstalking clauses, alleging that they were sometimes deployed against investigative journalists and government critics.
The IPC Executive Director disclosed that the organisation’s Safety and Protection of Journalists Hub documented at least 20 attacks on journalists during the 2023 general elections, stressing the need for enhanced protection during electoral activities.
Arogundade said the engagement was aimed at equipping journalists with knowledge of digital security tools, fact-checking strategies, secure communication methods and ethical standards required for credible election coverage.
He added that IPC and CEMESO were collaborating with key institutions, including the police and the National Human Rights Commission, to promote press freedom and guarantee the safety of journalists during elections.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of CEMESO, Akin Akingbulu, described Nigeria’s media environment as increasingly challenging, citing AI-driven misinformation, cyber surveillance and coordinated online attacks as growing concerns.
Akingbulu said the engagement focused on digital rights and freedom of expression, cybersecurity and online safety, management of digital risks, journalist protection and responsible election reporting.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, commended the organisers and pledged the support of journalists in the state toward ensuring credible and peaceful elections.
