Ekiti 2026: IPC Trains Journalists on Credible Polls, Pushes AI Adoption
The International Press Centre (IPC) has commenced a two-day stakeholders’ dialogue for journalists in Ekiti State, aimed at promoting credible election coverage ahead of the June 20 governorship poll.
The workshop, held in Ado-Ekiti, forms part of efforts to strengthen media capacity in delivering factual, balanced, and fair reporting during the electoral process.
Speaking at the opening session, IPC Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade, said the programme is funded by the European Union under the “EU-Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II), Component 4: Support to Media.”
He explained that the initiative is designed to enhance the role of the media in deepening democracy by ensuring accurate, fair, and transparent election reporting.
Arogundade noted that the intervention is part of a broader five-year programme focused on improving democratic governance and strengthening the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.
He stressed that fact-checking and inclusive reporting remain essential duties of journalists, especially during elections, where the media must uphold accountability and transparency.
Also speaking, media trainer and Director of Journalism Clinic, Taiwo Obe, urged journalists to embrace artificial intelligence and digital tools to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
According to him, changing audience behaviour and digital consumption trends make it imperative for journalists to continuously upgrade their skills.
“My charge to journalists is to retool and learn how to use digital applications and artificial intelligence in their work, as media consumption habits have significantly changed,” he said.
In his contribution, a Professor of Mass Communication at Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Adebola Aderibigbe, called for issue-based reporting in the build-up to the 2026 governorship election.
He cautioned against sensationalism, emphasizing that responsible journalism is vital to sustaining democratic values.
Aderibigbe urged journalists to prioritise accuracy, fairness, and balance by verifying information and giving all parties equal opportunity to be heard.
He warned that biased or one-sided reporting could undermine the credibility of the electoral process, stressing that election coverage should focus on issues rather than personalities.