As Anambra State prepares for the 2025 Governorship Election, the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) are set to convene a series of strategic media engagements aimed at fostering democratic accountability, inclusive participation, and credible electoral processes.
The initiatives seek to build public confidence in the electoral system and promote constructive collaboration between journalists, electoral institutions, security agencies, and civic stakeholders, a statement by Olutoyin Ayoade, IPC’s Communications Officer noted.
Themed “Enhanced Reportage, Inclusivity & Accountability of Stakeholders Towards the Anambra Governorship Election,” the activities are jointly implemented by IPC and CEMESO, both partners within Component 4 (Support to Media) of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU–SDGN II) Programme.
The interventions are designed to strengthen ethical and professional reporting, enhance conflict-sensitive and gender-responsive coverage, and deepen dialogue among key actors toward transparent and peaceful elections in the state.
The series will begin with a Two-Day Media–Stakeholder Forum on Electoral Confidence, Reforms, Enhanced Reportage, and Inclusivity, scheduled for October 15–16, 2025, in Awka, Anambra State.
Day One (Wednesday, October 15) will feature interactive learning and experience-sharing sessions for journalists, focused on enhancing issue-based and inclusive electoral reportage, strengthening ethical and professional standards, and embedding accountability and public interest in media narratives.
Discussions will also examine press freedom, journalist safety, and gender responsiveness as critical elements of responsible and balanced election coverage in the Anambra context.
Day Two (Thursday, October 16) will convene a broad stakeholder interface and policy dialogue bringing together media leaders, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
Promoting collaboration, transparency, and effective voter education, while generating practical insights and actionable recommendations to strengthen voter confidence, advance electoral reforms, and promote peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections in Anambra State
The engagements will culminate in targeted media appearances and broadcast features across major radio and television platforms in Anambra on October 17, 2025, aimed at deepening public engagement, amplifying voter awareness, and mobilizing citizens toward peaceful, transparent, and inclusive participation in the electoral process.
Commenting on the forthcoming activities, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), noted that the initiative aligns with IPC’s sustained commitment to advancing the role of the media as a pillar of electoral integrity and public accountability.
“The media remain central to shaping public perception and confidence in the electoral process,” Arogundade observed. “This forum provides an opportunity to reassert professionalism, deepen ethical engagement, and ensure that electoral reportage meaningfully supports peaceful, credible, and participatory elections in Anambra State.”
In a similar vein, Dr. Akin Akingbulu, Executive Director of the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), highlighted the engagements as a strategic convergence of key actors to strengthen democratic processes through collaborative media action.
“What we are building is not just dialogue, but shared commitment,” Akingbulu remarked. “By bringing together journalists, electoral bodies, security agencies, and civil society, we aim to foster coherence, mutual accountability, and practical steps that enhance voter confidence and reinforce trust in the democratic process.”
Up to 45 journalists from broadcast, print, and online media will participate in the activities, focusing on coverage of the Anambra State Governorship Election scheduled for November 2025. Participants will also conduct stakeholder analyses of voter education issues within the broader framework of the off-season election.
The (Support to Media) component has the overall goal of further supporting the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria, with the media (broadcast, print, and online) playing pivotal roles in engaging the process through professional coverage and reportage of the electoral process.
Through its six interlinked components, which include support to INEC, the National Assembly, the Judiciary, political parties, civil society, and the media, the EU–SDGN II underscores the European Union’s commitment to nurturing a pluralistic, inclusive, and participatory democracy in Nigeria. By reinforcing democratic institutions and promoting coordinated reform efforts, the programme contributes to building a system where every voice counts.
By strengthening democratic institutions through coordinated efforts, the programme aims to create a functioning democracy where every voice is heard.
