Role of media in credible elections stressed at UI lecture

The Publisher of The Drum Online, Prince Akanni Segun, has urged the media to be accurate in the reportage of the 2019 elections.
Delivering a lecture organised by the All Nigerian United Nations Students and Youth Association’s Conference (University of Ibadan Chapter), Akanni posited: “There is no gain saying that the media has a big role to play, not only in ensuring that elections are transparent, but in ensuring also, that the outcome of any given election reflects the true wishes  of the people’’
The event was held at Alumni Auditorium, University of Ibadan, on Thursday, with the theme: The Role Of The Media In Ensuring People’s Votes Count.
He said: “Media owners are responsible for providing information, education and entertainment. The word media was first used in reference to books and newspapers, that is the print media. But with the advent of technology, media now encompasses television, movies, radio and the internet. The watchdog  role of the  media naturally comes to bear at election periods. It is safe to propagate, therefore, that the media is essential to democracy, and a democratic election is impossible without it.
A free and fair election is not only about the freedom to vote and the knowledge of how to cast a vote, but also about a participatory process where voters engage in public debate and have adequate information about parties, policies, candidates and the election process itself in order to make informed choices. The media acts as a watchdog to democratic elections, safeguarding the transparency of the process’’.
Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Mutiu Olaleke Agboke, who was the keynote speaker, urged politicians to shun violence.
Head of Media and Publicity of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Alhaji Kehinde Isiaka, representing the State Director of the agency, Mrs Dolapo Dosunmu, spoke on vote buying, urging students not to be part of the political scandal that is presently rocking the nation’s political space.
President of the association, Mr Oluwasegun Olalekan  Oladokun, said the event ‘Political Conference, 2019’ was organised by All Nigerian United Nations Students and Youth Association (ANUNSA), University of Ibadan (UI).
The association was established in 1958 at the University of Ibadan and it is the first registered and recognised United Nations Students and  Youth Association in Nigeria.
He expressed the gratitude of the organisation to the University of Ibadan  management led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka, for creating an enabling environment for students to lead conversations in national discourse and empowering them in contributing to national development.
At the event are Dr. Yemi Farounbi, the governorship candidates of National Interest Party, Princess Bolanle Ashabi Sarumi Aliyu, Engr Akinwale Omololu Laosun of African Action Congress, Mr Akande Akin Sanyaolu of Peoples Democratic Change and Prof. M. O. Abdulrahman, among others.