Ahead of the 2023 general elections, a non-governmental organization, the Human Rights Advancement, Development and Advocacy Center (HURIDAC) in collaboration with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), on Monday released a media guidelines factsheet.
The guideline was launched to support the media in their role in covering the ongoing political party’s anti-corruption campaign in the upcoming elections in Lagos State.
The guideline was launched during a press conference held at the HURIDAC head office in Ojodu Berger, Lagos.
Speaking at the event, Samuel Asimi senior programme officer at CISLAC, thanked HURIDAC for always being at the forefront of the fight against corruption and for being a worthy partner in raising public consciousness about the menace constituted to our society by it.
He also appreciated the media for being a vibrant stakeholder in the quest to keep the electorate informed about corruption and other issues to enable them to make informed decisions as we look ahead to the 2023 general elections and solicited their support and cooperation at all times for the sake of a better society.
In a press statement released at the conference, “HURIDAC is publishing the guidelines that can help the media fight corruption using their medium to educate the masses and also monitor the anticorruption plans political parties, particularly those of the All-Progressive Congress (APC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the Labour Party (LP) ahead of the next elections in Lagos State in 2023.
“HURIDAC is particular about the media’s obligations to voters, candidates, and political parties. The priority is to be able to raise awareness on anti-corruption plans among voters, whether or not corruption is addressed in political party constitutions, as well as the candidates’ pledges to fight it.
“It is a globally acknowledged fact that corruption has become not only a national menace but also a global threat to the existence of humanity which must be confronted frontally with all the resources it deserves within the ambit of the law. Hence, HURIDAC wants the media who are covering the campaign activities in the upcoming 2023 elections in Lagos State to educate the public on anti-corruption issues so that voters are aware of and can understand each party’s anti-corruption campaign pledges.
“Thus, we are rubbing minds today so that questions can be asked, and answers provided on this critical area of governance from the media and as partners in progress, we can all be on the same page for good governance to the benefit of all.”
Some of the role of the media itemise in the factsheet according to the press statement includes;
1. Raising awareness among voters on Anti-corruption
2. To evaluate the role of the candidate and party in previous corruption cases.
3. Give easy access for the people to complain about anti-corruption cases
4. To present an in-depth research result of the party and the candidate on their anti-corruption footprint for the people to decide.