The Independent National Electoral Commission has stated the importance of debates among candidates running for political offices in 2019.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this while delivering a speech titled, ‘The role of media in the Nigerian electoral process,’ at the 69th General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria in Lagos on Wednesday.

Yakubu said the debates were a vital part of the democratic process as they helped to guide the decision of voters.

He said, “As a key player in the Nigeria Elections Debate Group, it is appropriate that BON and its members, in consonance with the practice in advanced and developing democracies, should remain in the forefront of efforts to institutionalise the practice of debate among candidates seeking political office in Nigeria.

“Such debates are necessary for deepening democracy by promoting civil discourse and providing a platform for candidates to articulate their positions on public policy issues. They also allow the public to judge aspiring candidates for political office under pressure and evaluate their arguments in competition with other candidates.

“Debates also serve an important role of demonstrating to the aspiring candidates that democracy is about standing before the public and answering their questions.”

The INEC chairman also called on the media to help the commission tackle the threat of fake news and hate speech which could undermine the electoral process or heat up the polity.

According to Yakubu, the advent of social media has made the dissemination of information faster but has also made it easier for mischievous persons to spread false information.

He, however, said INEC would not support censorship of social media as recommended by some.

The INEC boss added, “How then do we tackle fake news? Some people have suggested some form of regulation by the government. But can the government put some control measures in place that would not be quickly misunderstood as an attempt to censor the media?

“If the government cannot regulate, who should? The new social media has become the new normal. INEC does not support censorship in any way. We believe that this is a subject that requires constant and open conversation until a solution can be found through structured and sustained engagement between the media and other stakeholders.”

He, however, said the traditional media would need to step up its game ahead of the general elections.

The INEC boss added, “It is possible that the 2019 general elections would be one of the most intense media-focused events in our political history. Stakeholders are likely to rely heavily on broadcast media, as well as on the new social media.

“For this reason, combating hate speech, fake news and other forms of reporting likely to inflame passion and trigger crisis will be of critical importance to the peaceful conduct of the elections.”

Yakubu appealed to the media to ensure that all political parties are given fair and balanced coverage ahead of the elections.

He noted that discriminating against any candidate or political party based on their financial strength was wrong.

Yakubu said, “Elections have become an important source of revenue for the media with wealthy candidates and political parties spending large amounts of money on political advertising which sometimes resulting in skewed coverage in favour of those who can afford the high cost of such advertising.

“In some cases, sections of the media do not always strictly adhere to professional and ethical standards for a variety of reasons. This is not only a violation of Sections 99, 100, 101 and 102 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), it actually imperils our democracy.”
punchng.com

I think most nigerians support Inec regarding electoral debates before elections. It should serve as indication to politicians who really wants to make things work when they get in there.