Towards ensuring the safety of journalists at the Anambra gubernatorial election, the International Press Centre (IPC) has established a Special Journalists’ Safety Monitoring & Alert Desk for Journalists and other media professionals covering the poll.
In a press statement to announce the setting up of the special alert desk, IPC Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said the desk would operate from Friday November 5 to Sunday November 7 to cover the immediate pre-election, the election and the immediate post-election periods.
“Journalists have been molested by security agents and political thugs during previous elections despite accreditation by INEC and nothing can be taken for granted”, Mr. Arogundade stated.
The special alert desk will monitor and document the situation of journalists and other media professionals and send out immediate alerts if they encounter problems.
In the advisory issued to media professionals covering the election, IPC also charges journalists covering the election to abide with the provisions of the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage requiring adherence to the ethical and professional standards of factual accuracy, discipline of verification, avoidance of disinformation and misinformation, avoidance of hate speech and conflict sensitivity.
IPC also enjoins the journalists to “abide with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and refrain from publishing results that are not approved by INEC.”
IPC’s special alert desk can be reached via – +234 802 362 6281, +234 806 381 0424, +234 813 277 6441, +234 0811 450 3887 or Twitter: @IPCng and Facebook: IPC Nigeria.