The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Tuesday, tasked media practitioners to ensure ethics in their reportage, ahead of the Nov. 11 Kogi governorship election.

Mahmud Yakubu, the chairman, INEC, said this at a meeting with Kogi media executives in Lokoja as part of preparation for the election.

Mr Yakubu, represented by his media aide, Rotimi Olakanmi, said that the appeal became imperative because of the reoccurring cases of fake news in the media in recent times.

“As stakeholders, the media should refuse the temptation to move away from facts as being seen in social media, where fake news has become the order of the day.

“Let’s practice in accordance with the ethics of the profession and the laws of the land to help INEC succeed in its task of conducting credible, peaceful and successful election in Kogi come Nov 11,” he said.

Earlier, Gabriel Longpet, the state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), described the media as critical partner and stakeholder in the hitch-free conduct of the Nov. 11 governorship election.

Mr Longpet said that INEC was prepared and ready for the conduct of the election devoid of rancour.

“All we want is for the people of the state to demonstrate a change of attitude toward election and ensure that the election is credible and peaceful.

“Therefore, political actors should not do anything that will negatively affect the election, but to support the commission to succeed for the good of the state,” he said.

Mommoh Jimoh, the chairman of the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), lauded INEC for organising the meeting, which he said was the first of its kind since the creation of the state.

Mr Jimoh pleaded with INEC to provide journalists with accreditation cards and other materials needed for the smooth coverage of the poll.

He assured INEC of journalists’ readiness to give the Nov. 11 election the desired coverage for posterity.

(NAN)