The Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has organised a two-day media and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) workshop aimed at strengthening the capacity of journalists and civil society actors to promote electoral integrity and protect civic space in Nigeria.
The workshop, titled “Strengthening Media and CSOs for Electoral Integrity and Civic Space Protection in Nigeria,” brought together media professionals and civil society representatives to discuss their roles in promoting credible elections, democratic accountability, citizens’ participation and the protection of fundamental freedoms.
Speaking at the workshop, Prof. Kamilu Sani Fage of the Department of Political Science, Bayero University Kano, stressed the need for stronger collaboration between the media and CSOs.
He said such collaboration was particularly important in voter education, fact-checking, election monitoring, public awareness and reporting on electoral processes.
Fage said electoral integrity must be anchored on transparency, accountability and credible, free and fair elections, noting that these were essential to building public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
The workshop also examined concerns over the shrinking civic space in Nigeria, including restrictions on freedom of expression, intimidation of journalists and civic actors, misinformation and disinformation, as well as other challenges that could undermine citizens’ participation in democratic processes.
In his remarks, Prof. A.B. Ahmed of the Faculty of Law, Bayero University Kano, said electoral integrity encompassed legality, institutional independence, universal suffrage, political participation, transparency, credible voting and vote counting, equality in political competition, media pluralism and the prevention of violence before, during and after elections.
Representing the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Sulaiman Dederi, the NUJ Secretary, Hauwa Zaradeen, called for continuous capacity-building programmes for media professionals and CSOs.
She said strengthening the knowledge and skills of journalists and civil society actors would enable them to respond more effectively to emerging threats to electoral integrity and civic space.
THR News reports that participants at the workshop reaffirmed their commitment to promoting democratic values, protecting civic freedoms and supporting transparent, inclusive and credible electoral processes in Nigeria.
