Ahead of Ekiti 2026 gubernatorial election slated for June 20, 2026, the International Press Centre (IPC) has embarked on a two day stakeholders” dialogue for journalists in the State on credible election, as part of its activities to train the media practitioners ahead of the forthcoming election.
In his opening speech at the workshop, IPC Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade said, the dialogue became necessary in other to equip journalists on effective news reporting during and after the election and also, ensure free, fair and credible election.
Arogundade said the programme which was funded by the European Union, was organised under the programme titled: “EU-Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II), Component 4: Support to Media.” which will run for 5 years and the initiative is aimed at strengthening the capacity of the media to promote credible elections through factual, accurate and fair reporting.
He added that fact-checking and inclusive reporting are critical responsibilities for journalists, particularly during election periods, noting that the media must play a central role in ensuring transparency and accountability in the democratic process.
Speaking with journalists, a resource person and Director of Journalism Clinic, Taiwo Obe urged journalists to retool themselves and embrace artificial intelligence in order to remain effective in the evolving media landscape shaped by changing patterns of news consumption.
Taiwo Obe, said the digital transformation of the media industry requires journalists to continuously upgrade their skills in order to remain relevant and effective in their professional practice.
According to him, the changing nature of media consumption in the digital era makes it imperative for journalists to master modern digital tools and platforms, including the use of artificial intelligence.
His words, “My charge to today’s journalists is to retool themselves and learn how to use digital apps and tools in their practice because media consumption habits have changed in the digital milieu.
“This requires the use of those apps and tools and even artificial intelligence”.
Also speaking, a Professor of Mass Communication at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Adebola Aderibigbe, urged journalists in the State to ensure that coverage of the forthcoming governorship election is driven by issues rather than personalities.
Aderibigbe stressed that sensationalism should not dominate discussions around the 2026 election, adding that responsible journalism is critical to sustaining democratic processes.
According to him, journalists must prioritise accuracy, fairness and balance in their reports by verifying facts and giving all parties involved in political matters the opportunity to present their views.
“The election will not be defined by personalities; it should be defined by issues. Let issues be the pivotal ring upon which every discussion should be made. Sensationalisation of issues should not be the bedrock of discussions in the 2026 election.
