Chuks Okocha in Abuja
A professional-election non-governmental organisation, Yiaga Africa, has weighed into the controversy of whether or not or not the media can publish election outcomes, standing with the media on this.
In a press release, the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, stated the media may report outcomes that had been formally introduced at polling items as a result of these outcomes had been already within the public area.
Reacting to questions, Itodo stated, ‘’To handle this difficulty, it is very important perceive the election outcomes administration course of. Election outcomes are first introduced at the polling unit degree and instantly made public by way of verbal declaration and the posting of end result sheets.
‘’The function of this public announcement is to advertise transparency. Once outcomes are introduced at the polling unit, they turn into public info.
‘’Furthermore, the introduction of the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) was designed to deepen transparency within the electoral course of.
‘’The goal is to make outcomes accessible to residents and stakeholders, enabling them to observe the outcomes administration course of whereas decreasing alternatives for manipulation throughout collation.
“In that context, the media can report outcomes which have already been formally introduced at polling items as a result of these outcomes are already within the public area.
‘’This is especially vital given the widespread considerations and mistrust surrounding the outcomes administration course of.
‘’Historically, the collation stage has typically been seen because the weakest hyperlink within the electoral course of and the purpose at which political actors might search to compromise outcomes. Media and citizen oversight due to this fact serve a number of vital functions.”
