By Elizabeth Vincent, Yenagoa
Ahead of the Ekiti state governorship election scheduled for saturday, June 20, 2026, the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) have called on journalists and media professionals deployed for election coverage to uphold the highest standards of professionalism while prioritising their personal safety.
The governorship election will be conducted across the state’s 16 Local Government Areas.
In a statement issued ahead of the poll, the executive director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said the advisory became necessary in view of the crucial role the media plays during electoral processes and the potential risks journalists may face while carrying out their duties.
“It is very important for journalists covering the Ekiti state governorship election to remain safety conscious in the discharge of their responsibilities and avoid situations that may expose them to harm,Arogundade said he stressed the need for journalists to maintain neutrality throughout the election period noting that partisanship goes beyond membership of a political party.
“Being partisan is not only about belonging to a political party It also includes the use of expressions statements symbols tags colours or impressions that suggest affiliation with a political party or political figure, he stated.
Arogundade further urged journalists assigned to election duty to ensure they are properly accredited and fully equipped before heading to the field.
“Journalists covering the election should ensure that they are adequately kitted and accredited to avoid unnecessary questioning or restrictions by security agencies those not assigned to election coverage should refrain from moving around polling units during the election period.
“At all times, journalists must carry valid identification cards and ensure their press tags are visibly displayed to avoid harassment and unnecessary identity checks by security personnel.”
Also speaking, the executive director of CEMESO, Dr. Akin Akingbulu, underscored the importance of protecting journalists as a measure of democratic accountability,the conditions under which journalists are permitted to work constitute a direct measure of a society’s commitment to its civic values.
Every election is, at its core, a test of those values and nowhere is that test more visibly conducted than in the field,according to the organisations, IPC and CEMESO will collaborate with the Ekiti state police command during the election to enhance the safety of journalists deployed across the state.
Under the IPC/CEMESO safety of journalists initiative journalists who experience threats, attacks or other forms of rights violations while on assignment will have direct access to designated divisional police officers (DPOs) within their areas of coverage.
Arogundade called on security agencies to recognise the indispensable role of the media in the electoral process and accord journalists the necessary rights and privileges required to perform their constitutional duties.
“We expect security agencies to appreciate that the media remains a critical stakeholder in the electoral process and should be allowed to operate freely and professionally in the interest of credible elections.”
He also urged election observers and other stakeholders to proactively share relevant information with journalists to promote transparency and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
As part of measures to monitor and enhance journalists’ safety IPC and CEMESO disclosed that designated safety alert officers would be available throughout the election period to receive reports of threats harassment or attacks against media practitioners.
Arogundade further encouraged journalists to promptly report any form of intimidation or security concern to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti state council
Dr. Akingbulu described the deployment of journalists to cover elections as a vital democratic responsibility.
“The deployment of journalists to cover the Ekiti governorship election is not merely a professional exercise; it is an act of democratic service. When a journalist is harassed, denied access or attacked at a polling unit, it is not only the journalist that suffers; the electorate is deprived of the independent witness it deserves.”
While commending the partnership between IPC, CEMESO and the Ekiti state police command, Akingbulu noted that the initiative should be seen as a foundation rather than the ultimate solution,the real measure of our commitment will not be in the protocols we announce but in the culture of protection we demonstrate on election day.
On the relationship between security agencies and journalists during elections, Akingbulu called for cooperation built on mutual respect and a clear understanding of institutional responsibilities.
“The relationship between security personnel and journalists during elections has historically been one of the most contested frontiers in Nigeria’s democratic experience, often characterised by mutual suspicion.
“What the IPC/CEMESO Safety of Journalists Initiative seeks to achieve is the transformation of that adversarial relationship into one of constructive cooperation, not because both institutions share the same mandate, but because they are ultimately accountable to the same civic outcome a credible election.
He however cautioned against any arrangement that could compromise media independence,collaboration must never drift into cooptation the independence of the media is not a privilege granted by security institutions it is a right guaranteed by the democratic framework from which those institutions derive their legitimacy.
“Every stakeholder in the electoral ecosystem must understand that protecting journalists is not a favour to the media it is an investment in the integrity and credibility of the electoral process itself, Akingbulu concluded.
The IPC recalled that ahead of the 2023 presidential election, it launched a safety and professional advisory initiative aimed at equipping journalists with the necessary tools, knowledge and precautions required for safe and effective election coverage.
